Russia is using economic and cultural ties as a tool to strengthen its position in the region. In the past, they used another language. This development is good for both countries.

There is no elections scheduled in the country soon and the opposition is weak, so the president may easily initiate some liberal steps and reforms.

His position in Azerbaijan is stable, and he did not have to ask any favors of the United States. Meanwhile, the United States needs Azerbaijani support in the Iran issue.

The government belongs practically to one family that has complete control over all kinds of government decisions at all levels.

The Quartet - the United Nations, the European Union, Russia and the United States - must move past their formal meetings. The Security Council must go beyond presidential and press statements after its monthly meetings on the Middle East and the Arabs must do more that what they are doing now,

You can be operating a tank according to every rule from here to Russia and back again, but if somebody does something they're not supposed to do, you still might have a problem.