Humanitarian And Economic Fields To Bring Peace To South Caucasus –

HUMANITARIAN AND ECONOMIC FIELDS TO BRING PEACE TO SOUTH CAUCASUS – EXPERTS

Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Nov 13 2013

13 November 2013 – 1:20pm

Sergey Markov, head of the Plekhanov Russian University of Economics,
and Maksim Shevchenko, told Vestnik Kavkaza that the settlement of
the conflicts of the early 1990s was the key to peace in the South
Caucasus.

Shevchenko said that Azerbaijani, Georgia and Ossetian refugees should
be given an opportunity to return to their territories. Humanitarian
agreements following the process would allow discussions about the
state and political structure of South Caucasus. The expert expressed
hope that the upcoming meeting of the Azerbaijani and Armenian
presidents would be constructive. He expects the negotiations to
result in Azerbaijani refugees returning to their territories in
Nagorno-Karabakh.

Markov believes that settlement of the situation in South Caucasus
should start with economic initiatives, such as formation of a big
trade zone and encouragement of economic cooperation. Azerbaijan,
Georgia, Armenia, Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Russia, Turkey and Iran
should be part of the economic zone. The expert has hope that the
upcoming talks will bring new approaches to the Nagorno-Karabakh
peace process.