Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 19

By Gulnara Mammadova, Azad Hasanli – Trend:

Azerbaijan may become a sought-after negotiating platform, Irina Zvyagelskaya, chief researcher at the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, told Trend Feb. 19.

Zvyagelskaya made the remarks on the sidelines of the Middle East conference of the Valdai Discussion Club entitled "Russia in the Middle East: Playing on All Fields".

“There is a need for additional neutral negotiating platforms,” she said. “Taking into account Azerbaijan’s ability to conduct a tolerant dialogue with regional partners, in particular, with Russia, Turkey, Iran and Israel, that is, with the countries involved in the Syrian process, Azerbaijan's initiatives to act as another negotiating platform may be in demand.”

She added that in this context, Astana’s experience is useful.

"Taking into account Azerbaijan’s geostrategic positions in the region, the country may also increase its potential as a negotiating platform," Zvyagelskaya said.