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WAR IN KARABAKH IS LIKELY TO BREAK OUT - EXPERT
news.am
July 12 2011
Armenia
The war in Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone is likely to break out in
the medium term, International Crisis Group European Program Director
Sabine Freizer said in an interview with Turan news agency.
The race of armaments, escalation in the frontline, military rhetoric
and lack of progress in the negotiations only increases the risks.
She stressed that Azerbaijan's military spending not only exceeded
the entire budget of Armenia, but had even doubled last year.
According to her, opinions of some experts that a possible war will
be short-term are alarming, as they prompt to rash decisions and
reinforce the view that war is better than peace.
"Military rhetoric misleads people and makes them more intransigent:
Armenians in the issue of withdrawal from the occupied territories,
and Azerbaijanis in granting an interim status to Nagorno-Karabakh,"
Freizer said. "The war in Nagorno-Karabakh would be disastrous to
Russia's security and relations with its neighbors."
The expert considers war in Nagorno-Karabakh would last long. Russia
has commitments to ensure Armenia's security and it cannot completely
ignore them. On the other hand, Turkey has a similar commitment to
Azerbaijan. At a time when relations between Russia and Turkey become
closer to a strategic partnership, war in the region will negatively
influence both sides.
"We cannot achieve progress in the settlement, but I think in the
coming years it will be even harder, taking into account the upcoming
elections in Armenia, Azerbaijan and co-chairing states. Therefore,
most likely, the status quo will be maintained, although Azerbaijan
does not want it," she concluded.
news.am
July 12 2011
Armenia
The war in Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone is likely to break out in
the medium term, International Crisis Group European Program Director
Sabine Freizer said in an interview with Turan news agency.
The race of armaments, escalation in the frontline, military rhetoric
and lack of progress in the negotiations only increases the risks.
She stressed that Azerbaijan's military spending not only exceeded
the entire budget of Armenia, but had even doubled last year.
According to her, opinions of some experts that a possible war will
be short-term are alarming, as they prompt to rash decisions and
reinforce the view that war is better than peace.
"Military rhetoric misleads people and makes them more intransigent:
Armenians in the issue of withdrawal from the occupied territories,
and Azerbaijanis in granting an interim status to Nagorno-Karabakh,"
Freizer said. "The war in Nagorno-Karabakh would be disastrous to
Russia's security and relations with its neighbors."
The expert considers war in Nagorno-Karabakh would last long. Russia
has commitments to ensure Armenia's security and it cannot completely
ignore them. On the other hand, Turkey has a similar commitment to
Azerbaijan. At a time when relations between Russia and Turkey become
closer to a strategic partnership, war in the region will negatively
influence both sides.
"We cannot achieve progress in the settlement, but I think in the
coming years it will be even harder, taking into account the upcoming
elections in Armenia, Azerbaijan and co-chairing states. Therefore,
most likely, the status quo will be maintained, although Azerbaijan
does not want it," she concluded.