Azerbaijan, Baku, Dec.29, Trend , U.Sadigova /
Head of the Center for Strategic Studies Elkhan Nuriyev thinks the Middle East can be positively influenced by Azerbaijan.
"Azerbaijan is a country that can play a positive role in the Middle East. The visits of the Israeli, and Syrian presidents shows the country's increasing significance on the geo-economic level," Nuriyev told journalists while speaking about the center's activities in 2009.
Nuriyev said Azerbaijan's location at the Asian and European crossroads gives the country an advantage in terms of conducting a dialogue with different civilizations.
He does not exclude the Middle East's interest in using Russia's and Azerbaijan's warm relations and Azerbaijan's positive role for regional stability.
"Perhaps Azerbaijan could play a mediating role as a democratic, secular state, and Azerbaijan is the country that could be used to positively influence the Middle East," Nuriyev said.