PanArmenian News
March 11 2005
US EXPERT CALLS WASHINGTON TO INTERVENE IN KARABAKH CONFLICT
SETTLEMENT AT HIGHEST LEVEL
11.03.2005 04:59
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Director of International Security and Energy
Programs of the Nixon Center Zeyno Baran stated that “the US should
at the highest level get involved in the Karabakh conflict settlement
process in order to change political and economic conditions.” In her
words in 2002 Vladimir Putin and George Bush made a joint statement
on the necessity of settling frozen conflicts in Nagorno Karabakh
and Abkhazia, “however no further steps were taken.” The process of
the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement was placed at the disposal
of the OSCE Minsk Group, which cannot secure the problem solution
as the issue demands discussion at the highest level. Despite the
continuing dialogue between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the incapability
of finding a solution causes disappointment and undermines OSCE’s
authority”, Zeyno Baran noted. In her words, besides the Putin-Bush
discussions democratic progress is essential both in Armenia and
Azerbaijan. “The US should call the leaders of both states to perceive
democratic processes as an essential condition for establishing
regional security and stability”, she noted. According to her, both
Armenia and Azerbaijan are convinced that the time will decide in
their favor. “The West tells Azerbaijan that it had lost Karabakh
in the war and that it should abdicate from this territory in the
name of peace and prosperity and develop the process of integration
in the EU and NATO. Such conversations only toughen the position of
nationalists, who consider that the high profits from oil and gas
will help them to return the territories by force”, the expert added.
“Armenia in its turn thinks that the time will be in its credit for
juridical registration of Nagorno Karabakh beyond the borders of
Azerbaijan. Armenian politicians hold the opinion that Azerbaijan
will never run the risk of waging a war, as it comprehends that oil
and gas pipelines can be damaged thus causing the collapse of economy.