ARMENIA IS MAJOR OBSTACLE TO SETTLEMENT OF KARABAKH CONFLICT: POLITICAL EXPERT
Today
Nov 19 2009
Azerbaijan
Day.Az interview with Azerbaijani political expert Fikrat Sadigov.
Day.Az: Recently, Mark Medish, Assistant to former U.S. president
Bill Clinton said that settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
depends not only on Armenia and Azerbaijan. What are your views on
this statement?
Fikrat Sadigov: Much depends on the sides. But Armenia is major
obstacle in the settlement of the Karabakh conflict. Assistant
to former U.S. president is right in saying that today there is a
situation which necessitates intervention of outside forces to revive
the settlement process rather than a constant balancing of forces as
the Minsk Group does.
Attempts to resolve the Karabakh conflict date back to the 90th.
Former U.S. Secretaries of State Cyrus Vance and James Baker made
efforts and visited the region at that time. Unfortunately, their
participation was reduced to ensure that the parties to the conflict
will negotiate peacefully, but the Karabakh issue remained frozen
for a long time. Of course, such situation could not suit Azerbaijan.
Later active efforts by Azerbaijan led to establishment of the OSCE
Minsk Group which did not live up to expectations as the history
showed.
Q: What can be alternative to the OSCE Minsk Group? Can it be
re-organized?
A: I think it is high time for all participants of the Minsk Conference
to convene. There is a need to make changes to staff of co-chairs or
introduce a principle of rotation. Many states are able to enter in the
MG in Europe including Germany, the United Kingdom and Italy. Turkey
may also join the MG as it has recently intensified efforts in the
region. It is clear that Russia and the U.S. will be the basis, but
rotation or changes to the MG is necessary. This may bring certain
dynamism to settlement of the Karabakh conflict and revive the process,
because the MG fails to meet its tasks.
Q: The West says that Armenian-Turkish protocols signed in Zurich
are able to positively influence the Karabakh settlement. What is
your opinion on this issue?
A: Signing of the Armenian-Turkish protocols without taking into
account Azerbaijan’s interests can not have a positive effect on
settlement of the Karabakh conflict because it provides an additional
advantage to Armenia.
But, following Azerbaijan’s reaction to the Zurich agreement, there
was a rethinking of the Armenian-Turkish protocols. Parties no longer
ignore Azerbaijan stance as immediately after Azerbaijan announced
diversification of energy supplies in search of new allies. Therefore,
the Turkish parliament promises not to ratify the Armenian-Turkish
protocols.
All relations should be based on common interests. There will be no
peace and security in the region without a solution to the Karabakh
conflict.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
