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OPENING BORDER BETWEEN TURKEY AND ARMENIA SHOULD BE HARMONIZED WITH RETURNING FIVE OCCUPIED AZERBAIJANI REGIONS: RUSSIAN POLITICAL SCIENTIST
Trend
Nov 18 2009
Azerbaijan
Opening the border between Turkey and Armenia should be harmonized
with returning five occupied Azerbaijani regions, head of the expert
group of Information and Analytical Center at Moscow State University
named after M.Lomonosov, Alexey Vlasov, told Trend News.
"And it should be the first step in resolving this conflict, and
further the question of the status of Karabakh will raise, but the
issue can be postponed indefinitely, having resolved at least the
return of the occupied regions at the first stage," said Vlasov.
Turkish and Armenian foreign ministers Ahmet Davutoglu and Edward
Nalbandian signed the protocols on restoration of diplomatic relations
between Ankara and Yerevan in Zurich on October 10.Diplomatic relations
between Armenia and Turkey have been broken due to Armenia's claims
of an alleged genocide, and its occupation of Azerbaijani lands. The
border between them has been broken since 1993.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 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 the peace negotiations.
With tightening of solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh problem, the
conflict level in the region will increase, Vlasov said. "Unless
concrete steps are taken to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,
the conflict level in the region will only increase," said the
political scientist.
In his view, the unilateral opening of the border between Turkey and
Armenia without the withdrawal of Armenian troops is a disputable
question.
"If the Turkish parliament ratifies the opening of the border between
Turkey and Armenia, then, according to the rules, within 60 days
after ratification, the border should be opened. But this is a very
big question whether the border will be opened," he said.
According to Vlasov, this is explained through the fact that there
are contradictions on the issue at the party of Erdogan, and through
difficult attitude towards the situation in Turkey itself.
Regarding how Kazakhstan's chairmanship to the OSCE next year will
help solve Nagorno-Karabakh problem, the expert noted that Kazakh
President Nursultan Nazarbayev recently attended the summit of
Turkic states. "It seems that the relationship between Kazakhstan
and Azerbaijan is in the plan of strategic partnership," said Vlasov.
According to him, Kazakhstan has a difficult task "to harmonize its
interests with those of external e powers - the U.S., Russia and the
EU" in the settlement of this protracted conflict. "For Kazakhstan,
it is important not to spoil relations with Turkey and to maintain
a powerful dialogue format with Azerbaijan," said Vlasov.
According to the expert, in such a situation, Kazakhstan needs to
support the initiative of the OSCE Minsk Group and the solution of
the Nagorno-Karabakh problem within the Madrid principles.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Trend
Nov 18 2009
Azerbaijan
Opening the border between Turkey and Armenia should be harmonized
with returning five occupied Azerbaijani regions, head of the expert
group of Information and Analytical Center at Moscow State University
named after M.Lomonosov, Alexey Vlasov, told Trend News.
"And it should be the first step in resolving this conflict, and
further the question of the status of Karabakh will raise, but the
issue can be postponed indefinitely, having resolved at least the
return of the occupied regions at the first stage," said Vlasov.
Turkish and Armenian foreign ministers Ahmet Davutoglu and Edward
Nalbandian signed the protocols on restoration of diplomatic relations
between Ankara and Yerevan in Zurich on October 10.Diplomatic relations
between Armenia and Turkey have been broken due to Armenia's claims
of an alleged genocide, and its occupation of Azerbaijani lands. The
border between them has been broken since 1993.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 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 the peace negotiations.
With tightening of solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh problem, the
conflict level in the region will increase, Vlasov said. "Unless
concrete steps are taken to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,
the conflict level in the region will only increase," said the
political scientist.
In his view, the unilateral opening of the border between Turkey and
Armenia without the withdrawal of Armenian troops is a disputable
question.
"If the Turkish parliament ratifies the opening of the border between
Turkey and Armenia, then, according to the rules, within 60 days
after ratification, the border should be opened. But this is a very
big question whether the border will be opened," he said.
According to Vlasov, this is explained through the fact that there
are contradictions on the issue at the party of Erdogan, and through
difficult attitude towards the situation in Turkey itself.
Regarding how Kazakhstan's chairmanship to the OSCE next year will
help solve Nagorno-Karabakh problem, the expert noted that Kazakh
President Nursultan Nazarbayev recently attended the summit of
Turkic states. "It seems that the relationship between Kazakhstan
and Azerbaijan is in the plan of strategic partnership," said Vlasov.
According to him, Kazakhstan has a difficult task "to harmonize its
interests with those of external e powers - the U.S., Russia and the
EU" in the settlement of this protracted conflict. "For Kazakhstan,
it is important not to spoil relations with Turkey and to maintain
a powerful dialogue format with Azerbaijan," said Vlasov.
According to the expert, in such a situation, Kazakhstan needs to
support the initiative of the OSCE Minsk Group and the solution of
the Nagorno-Karabakh problem within the Madrid principles.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress