KARABAKH TALKS NEED PROGRESS WITHIN SIX MONTHS

news.az
Nov 10 2009
Azerbaijan

Rasim Musabeyov News.Az interviews Azerbaijani political scientist
Rasim Musabeyov.

What can you say about the current state of the negotiation process
on the Karabakh conflict settlement?

I can say that the negotiations are intensive but without any visible
progress.

What is the reason for the recent intensification in shuttle diplomacy
by the mediators from the Organization for Security and Cooperation
in Europe’s Minsk Group?

This was caused by the absence of results and a willingness to promote
the process. Four years of work are at stake. This negotiations process
is the longest and the most productive in terms of meetings, various
discussions and visits. The issue is not limited only to the co-chairs
of the Minsk Group. The process has also involved the presidents of
the mediating states who in their special statements have supported
the intention to reach agreement on the basis of the Madrid proposals.

Is a breakthrough in the conflict settlement by the end of the year
realistic?

Progress by the end of the year does not seem realistic to me
because I think little time is left. The presidents are to meet in
November but I do not think that just one issue is left that can be
settled during the meeting. It is obvious that the process is at the
finishing line. The issue cannot be protracted for long. In fact,
I think if no progress is made in the coming three to six months,
it will be difficult to keep the process working.

Despite the optimistic statements by the mediators and their frequent
visits, the conflict parties still fail to agree on the main issue –
the status of the Nagorno-Karabakh region. What is your view of this?

It is not surprising that the sides cannot agree on the status of this
region for the simple reason that Armenia is demanding the inclusion in
the agreement of a mechanism leading to Nagorno-Karabakh’s secession
from Azerbaijan, while Azerbaijan cannot agree to that and I do not
think anyone can make Azerbaijan do so.

What is the way out of this deadlocked situation?

The way out is for the issue to be left open. The issue can find
its solution within the framework of the territorial integrity of
Azerbaijan as the internal self-determination of Nagorno-Karabakh,
but taking the Azerbaijani community of this region into account too,
since their will is no less significant than the will of the Armenian
community.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress