AZERBAIJAN, ARMENIA ‘LIKELY TO CONCEDE’ UNDER INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE, ANALYST SAYS
Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
July 6 2006
Baku, July 5, AssA-Irada
The latest statements by the OSCE mediators brokering settlement to
the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh are
aimed to put pressure on the sides, an Azeri analyst says.
“I believe there is good chance that the parties will make concessions
under pressure,” Leyla Aliyeva said while commenting on a statement
issued by the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen that outlined the core
settlement principles and caused a great deal of debate.
Aliyeva added, however, that the statements aimed simply to study
public opinion, and that a strong public reaction to this would reduce
the possibility of compromises.
“The statements are also a tool to put pressure on the two
presidents. The co-chairs are thus trying to say that we have done
everything in our power and the responsibility is now yours. This
could be considered as pressure, because if a leader does not accept
concessions, it is usually frowned upon in the international arena,”
the analyst said.