NATO NOT TO BE ENGAGED IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT
news.am
March 16, 2012 | 14:34
NATO has no intention of getting involved in the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict and it is not even involved in the peace process, the Deputy
Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs and Security Policy
James Appathurai said in an interview with Atlantic-community.org.
In response to the question what kind of arrangements NATO is going
to carry out in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Azerbaijan and
Armenia, Appathurai said that the bottom line is that NATO hopes it
never to happen.
Appathurai thinks there is concern amongst the Allies at the state
of the Minsk Process.
“NATO heard from the two presidents in the last few weeks that
they are committed to the process, they are committed to a peaceful
resolution to the Nagorno-Karabakh crisis. But the reality is that
the Minsk Process has had some difficulties, especially recently,
and that there is worrying rhetoric between the two states and a lot
of weapons being purchased by both states,” he said.
According to him, the South Caucasus is a region which probably does
not get as much attention as it deserves from the international media.
“It is of critical strategic importance for reasons of its location,
for reasons of its potential, and for reasons of its energy transit and
supply role. So for many reasons it is important that this conflict
be resolved in a peaceful way as soon as possible and respecting the
principles of international law. So NATO hopes it will be solved,
but to come back to the question in its most pointed way, NATO is not
involved in this crisis, except to supporting the Minsk Group and a
peaceful resolution,” he said.