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BECAUSE OF WHAT ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN FAILED TO REACH AN AGREEMENT
by Igor Yavlyansky
DEFENSE and SECURITY
July 13, 2011 Wednesday
Russia
Source: Izvestia (Moscow issue), July 11, 2011, p. 1, 5
[translated from Russian]
ACHIEVEMENT OF AGREEMENT ON REGULATION IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH WAS
RUINED DUE TO THE FAULT FO THE PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN; Armenia and
Azerbaijan failed to reach new agreements on the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict in Kazan.
The visit of Lavrov to Yerevan and Baku was prepared hastily. He
received a relevant instruction of President Medvedev a few days ago
in Sochi where a meeting of the Russia-NATO council took place. The
Russian leader received the necessary powers from other co-chairs of
the Minsk OSCE group: leaders of the US and France.
Everyone expected a hint at a breakthrough but already in Armenia it
became clear: Baku and Yerevan will need at least several days for
decision-making during which presidents of the two countries will
get acquainted with the document. The matter was about signing of an
agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan "On the main principles of
regulation in Nagorno-Karabakh."
On June 24, the parties failed to sign this road map in Kazan although
they were as close to achievement of a compromise as they had never
been before. A top-ranking official of the Foreign Ministry reported,
"Due to the intermediary efforts of Russian President Medvedev Baku
and Yerevan were literally one step from making of a deal. At the
last moment, Ilham Aliyev backed off and formulated these very ten
amendments."
According to available information, the main stepping stone was the
provision that was written in the Madrid principles of regulation as,
"The future determination of the final legal status of Nagorno-Karabakh
through legally binding referendum of its population."
This means that according to development of the road map from the
Minsk OSCE group the fate of the enclave should be determined at a
referendum. It is impossible to doubt about results of voting of the
Armenians who live there and constitute majority of the population.
That is why Baku has some questions left.
Meanwhile, there appeared critics of the project of the Minsk
group: is it possible to move the negotiations from the dead point
in this format? Another topic that is actively discussed by the
US and Turkey: is Russia really interested in quick and peaceful
solving of the Nagorno-Karabakh problem? They say that Moscow is
allegedly interested in use of the contradictions between Azerbaijan
and Armenia for its own purposes to increase its influence in the
region. Officials of the Foreign Ministry say that such accusations
addressed to Russia are absolutely ungrounded. Sergei Lavrov states,
"Solving of the Nagorno-Karabakh problem with our mediation is one
of the most important foreign policy tasks."
Despite the unsettled issues, bilateral relations develop perfectly.
The protocol on stay of the Russian missile base (object of air
defense) in Armenian Gyumri came into force. An agreement on
demarcation of the border was signed with Baku.
Source: Izvestia (Moscow issue), July 11, 2011, p. 1, 5
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
by Igor Yavlyansky
DEFENSE and SECURITY
July 13, 2011 Wednesday
Russia
Source: Izvestia (Moscow issue), July 11, 2011, p. 1, 5
[translated from Russian]
ACHIEVEMENT OF AGREEMENT ON REGULATION IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH WAS
RUINED DUE TO THE FAULT FO THE PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN; Armenia and
Azerbaijan failed to reach new agreements on the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict in Kazan.
The visit of Lavrov to Yerevan and Baku was prepared hastily. He
received a relevant instruction of President Medvedev a few days ago
in Sochi where a meeting of the Russia-NATO council took place. The
Russian leader received the necessary powers from other co-chairs of
the Minsk OSCE group: leaders of the US and France.
Everyone expected a hint at a breakthrough but already in Armenia it
became clear: Baku and Yerevan will need at least several days for
decision-making during which presidents of the two countries will
get acquainted with the document. The matter was about signing of an
agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan "On the main principles of
regulation in Nagorno-Karabakh."
On June 24, the parties failed to sign this road map in Kazan although
they were as close to achievement of a compromise as they had never
been before. A top-ranking official of the Foreign Ministry reported,
"Due to the intermediary efforts of Russian President Medvedev Baku
and Yerevan were literally one step from making of a deal. At the
last moment, Ilham Aliyev backed off and formulated these very ten
amendments."
According to available information, the main stepping stone was the
provision that was written in the Madrid principles of regulation as,
"The future determination of the final legal status of Nagorno-Karabakh
through legally binding referendum of its population."
This means that according to development of the road map from the
Minsk OSCE group the fate of the enclave should be determined at a
referendum. It is impossible to doubt about results of voting of the
Armenians who live there and constitute majority of the population.
That is why Baku has some questions left.
Meanwhile, there appeared critics of the project of the Minsk
group: is it possible to move the negotiations from the dead point
in this format? Another topic that is actively discussed by the
US and Turkey: is Russia really interested in quick and peaceful
solving of the Nagorno-Karabakh problem? They say that Moscow is
allegedly interested in use of the contradictions between Azerbaijan
and Armenia for its own purposes to increase its influence in the
region. Officials of the Foreign Ministry say that such accusations
addressed to Russia are absolutely ungrounded. Sergei Lavrov states,
"Solving of the Nagorno-Karabakh problem with our mediation is one
of the most important foreign policy tasks."
Despite the unsettled issues, bilateral relations develop perfectly.
The protocol on stay of the Russian missile base (object of air
defense) in Armenian Gyumri came into force. An agreement on
demarcation of the border was signed with Baku.
Source: Izvestia (Moscow issue), July 11, 2011, p. 1, 5
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress