MARK MEDISH: KARABAKH SETTLEMENT DOES NOT DEPEND ON THE CONFLICTING PARTIES ONLY

armradio.am
14.11.2009 12:58

Former Special Assistant to US president Mark Medish believes the
adjustment of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict doesn’t depend only on the
conflict sides.

"As somebody who worked on the Nagorno-Karabakh negotiations during
the Clinton Administration, I have long believed that a mutually
acceptable settlement is within reach, but unfortunately opportunistic
political calculations in various capitals have blocked it" former
Senior Director for Eurasian Affairs on the US National Security
Council 2000-2001, who currently is a senior adviser at the Carnegie
Endowment for International Peace said in an interview with Trend News.

Speaking about the stability conditions in South Caucasus former US
president’s assistant stressed that "Basically all conflicting sides
have understood that the path of confrontation is extremely dangerous
and not in anybody’s interest".

He also noticed that "the scars are deep and anxiety remains high. The
consequences of recklessly unfreezing a frozen conflict, as Georgia and
Russia did last year, could be like Pandora’s Box. Therefore efforts
must be re-doubled for negotiated, peaceful resolution of all regional
disputes, with the help of international mediators as much as needed".

Mr. Medish also commented on U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Philip
Gordon’s doubts that without progress in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
solution, the Turkish-Armenian protocols will be ratified by the
Turkish Parliament.

"I find it difficult to predict the behavior of the US Congress and
therefore I would be careful to make statements about other countries’
parliaments. In any case, the Turkish-Armenian rapprochement is to
be welcomed as a step toward regional stabilization and integration"
– analyst mentioned.