‘UNITED STATES SHOULD PLAY RESPONSIBLE ROLE IN KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT PROCESS’
TODAY.AZ
19 October 2012 [13:33]
Due to the influence of the Armenian lobby, the US cannot take
an active part in the objective resolution of the biggest threat
to the security in the South Caucasus – the settlement of the
Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, director of the
Center for Strategic Studies under the Azerbaijani President, Farhad
Mammadov believes.
“Over 20 years, the US policy in the region has been instrumental
in strengthening the independence of Azerbaijan and Georgia and in
the regional security process. However, due to the influence of the
Armenian lobby, the US cannot take an active part in the objective
resolution of the biggest threat to the security in the South
Caucasus – the settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict,” Mammadov said during his speech at the Conference “Role
of Azerbaijani-American cooperation in regional peace and stability”
on Friday.
He said the current state of the region is unsustainable and it is
impossible to create favorable conditions for a secure future without
influence and perhaps even pressure from outside. “In our view, the
US is not active in this area. Statements that the resolution of the
conflict depends on the free will of the parties are irresponsible
at the very least. What free will can we speak of when the aggressor
state of Armenia puts forward unreasonable demands and tries to
maintain the status quo at all costs?” Mammadov said.
The United States, as the most powerful country in the world, can and
should play a responsible role in the settlement process, he believes.
Mammadov said the beginning of a peace process advocated by Azerbaijan
at this stage will create a new picture of the region. “After the
liberation of the occupied territories, the Armenian-Azerbaijani and
Armenian-Turkish border will be opened, and Armenia will be able
to enjoy open borders, which promises a short-term 20% economic
growth spurt. The status of Nagorno-Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan
can be discussed for many years, because the new picture of the
region will create a new reality and strengthen the independence of
Armenia. Under no circumstances does the resolution of the conflict
does pose a threat to US interests in the region. On the contrary,
it will create conditions for the safe and successful development of
the region where all countries will enjoy partnership relations with
the United States,” he said.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 per cent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.
Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France and the U.S. –
are currently holding peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council’s four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.
URL:
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
