2006 IS DECISIVE BUT NOT FINAL YEAR FOR SETTLEMENT OF NAGORNO KARABAKH ISSUE
By Aghavni Harutyunian
AZG Armenian Daily
04/04/2006
The best way to avert the war is to come to agreement in coming
few months. Moreover, the lack of progress in Nagorno Karabakh
negotiations may cause quite radical decisions. OSCE Minsk Group
co-chair Steven Mann stated this during the videoconference at the
US Embassy in Armenia. Notwithstanding big expectations from the
negotiations process in 2006, Mann doesn't think the conflict will be
fully settled in 2006. At the same time, he stated that he wouldn't
like the sides to miss the settlement opportunity in 2006 and look
back at the past with regret.
He said that the cases of ceasefire violation on the border are caused
by dangerous irresponsibility. Mann stated that the coming negotiations
will greatly contribute to aversion of the war. As for the probability
of unfolding a new war, Mann said that no one could make forecasts
about the further developments. The international community will just
try to find new settlement options through the negotiations.
Mann stated that the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs would support the
participation of NKR in the negotiations, if the sides support this
idea, too. According to him, the issue should be observed from another
viewpoint, whether the participation of NKR will contribute to the
settlement process or not. Anyway, the current format yielded certain
progress. "The Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan deserve respect
for the steps they took recently," Mann stated.
As for comparing the Nagorno Karabakh conflict with that in
Kosovo, Mann said that each conflict has unique origin, history and
peculiarities that are to be taken into account. "Whatever settlement
we may have in the case of Kosovo, it may serve as bad example for
the Nagorno Karabakh conflict if we try to apply it in case of NKR,"
Steven Mann emphasized.
Thus, it is obvious that this year becomes in some ways an
obligatory one in the context of achieving considerable progress
in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement. Though, it isn't clear
yet, how the mediators will treat the recent statements of the Azeri
president. Moreover, if we take into account the fact that such absurd,
groundless and idle statements of Aliyev create public opinion in
Azerbaijan, making no room for concession in Nagorno Karabakh issue.
By Aghavni Harutyunian
AZG Armenian Daily
04/04/2006
The best way to avert the war is to come to agreement in coming
few months. Moreover, the lack of progress in Nagorno Karabakh
negotiations may cause quite radical decisions. OSCE Minsk Group
co-chair Steven Mann stated this during the videoconference at the
US Embassy in Armenia. Notwithstanding big expectations from the
negotiations process in 2006, Mann doesn't think the conflict will be
fully settled in 2006. At the same time, he stated that he wouldn't
like the sides to miss the settlement opportunity in 2006 and look
back at the past with regret.
He said that the cases of ceasefire violation on the border are caused
by dangerous irresponsibility. Mann stated that the coming negotiations
will greatly contribute to aversion of the war. As for the probability
of unfolding a new war, Mann said that no one could make forecasts
about the further developments. The international community will just
try to find new settlement options through the negotiations.
Mann stated that the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs would support the
participation of NKR in the negotiations, if the sides support this
idea, too. According to him, the issue should be observed from another
viewpoint, whether the participation of NKR will contribute to the
settlement process or not. Anyway, the current format yielded certain
progress. "The Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan deserve respect
for the steps they took recently," Mann stated.
As for comparing the Nagorno Karabakh conflict with that in
Kosovo, Mann said that each conflict has unique origin, history and
peculiarities that are to be taken into account. "Whatever settlement
we may have in the case of Kosovo, it may serve as bad example for
the Nagorno Karabakh conflict if we try to apply it in case of NKR,"
Steven Mann emphasized.
Thus, it is obvious that this year becomes in some ways an
obligatory one in the context of achieving considerable progress
in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement. Though, it isn't clear
yet, how the mediators will treat the recent statements of the Azeri
president. Moreover, if we take into account the fact that such absurd,
groundless and idle statements of Aliyev create public opinion in
Azerbaijan, making no room for concession in Nagorno Karabakh issue.