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KARABAKH NEGOTIATIONS: IDLE TALK WITH NO ACTION
By Ivan Gharibyan
news.am
June 27 2011
Armenia
The recent days were marked by aggravation of the situation, calls
to necessarily agree on notorious basic principles, phone calls
and obvious failure of the Kazan meeting of Armenian, Russian and
Azerbaijani Presidents. As usual there was a lot of idle talk at the
highest geopolitical level but everything resumed its normal course.
The reason is too obvious. Being too self-confident, Aliyev clan is
simply not ready for a peaceful settlement of the Karabakh conflict
- something that world powers cannot understand, or they pretend
they can't.
On the eve of the talks President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan said that
Armenia expects for Baku's constructive proposals. The proposals
were received but they appeared to be more than 10 which is rather
"non-constructive". Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian
immediately said Azerbaijani side in fact ruined the talks. There is
no reason to doubt Nalbandian's words not because he is representing
the Armenian side. In fact Baku's belated accusations did not suggest
any real refutation.
The next proof that Azerbaijani authoritarian dictator is getting
ready for war, not peace, was his speech during the military parade
in Baku following the Kazan meeting. In his address on the occasion
of the Day of Azerbaijani armed forces, Aliyev mentioned the "need
to restore territorial integrity". In order "to prove" intentions
to continue efforts towards peaceful settlement, it was emphasized
that Azerbaijan's territorial integrity can be restored by any means,
including military actions.
Aliyev demonstrated his militaristic "optimism" during the parade.
When Azerbaijani flag was carried in the announcer expressed his
confidence that "it will be soon unfurled over Karabakh, over Khankendi
(in Azerbaijanis' dreams it is the name of Stepanakert, the capital
of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic).
As a result, less than two days after talks in Kazan, which the
mediators have dared to announce as a turning point, Azerbaijani
authorities showed geopolitical actors that they do not care for any
calls to resolve Karabakh conflict peacefully and without delay.
On the contrary - the militarization of the country will continue
and Azerbaijan will remain a real threat to peace and security in
the region.
This is the Gordian Knot of current situation over the Nagorno-Karabakh
settlement. Yerevan is ready to make reasonable concessions, while
Baku is eager to return to 1988, thus disrupting the peace process.
Thus, the regional situation seems to be rather complicated. Moreover,
the Azerbaijani authorities have managed to cheat such geopolitical
antagonists, as the U.S. and Russia.
Washington did not succeed in the Armenian-Turkish process, which,
as the saying goes was failed by Turkey's "young brother" Azerbaijan.
Then, not even getting sanctions from the West, Baku decided it is
high time to tarnish Moscow's reputation in the region. The situation
appeared too dull for Moscow. First Aliyev said he appreciated personal
participation of Dmitry Medvedev in negotiations but then disrupts
them in Medvedev's territory.
As a result, major geopolitical players are faced with a task: what
should they do with rebellious Azerbaijan which is not playing the
game by rules, cheating everyone and is willing to unleash new war
in the region.
The Kazan meeting's result is obvious: it is impossible to make
Azerbaijan come to senses just by voicing calls and persuasions.
Moscow and Washington must take more serious measures.
By Ivan Gharibyan
news.am
June 27 2011
Armenia
The recent days were marked by aggravation of the situation, calls
to necessarily agree on notorious basic principles, phone calls
and obvious failure of the Kazan meeting of Armenian, Russian and
Azerbaijani Presidents. As usual there was a lot of idle talk at the
highest geopolitical level but everything resumed its normal course.
The reason is too obvious. Being too self-confident, Aliyev clan is
simply not ready for a peaceful settlement of the Karabakh conflict
- something that world powers cannot understand, or they pretend
they can't.
On the eve of the talks President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan said that
Armenia expects for Baku's constructive proposals. The proposals
were received but they appeared to be more than 10 which is rather
"non-constructive". Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian
immediately said Azerbaijani side in fact ruined the talks. There is
no reason to doubt Nalbandian's words not because he is representing
the Armenian side. In fact Baku's belated accusations did not suggest
any real refutation.
The next proof that Azerbaijani authoritarian dictator is getting
ready for war, not peace, was his speech during the military parade
in Baku following the Kazan meeting. In his address on the occasion
of the Day of Azerbaijani armed forces, Aliyev mentioned the "need
to restore territorial integrity". In order "to prove" intentions
to continue efforts towards peaceful settlement, it was emphasized
that Azerbaijan's territorial integrity can be restored by any means,
including military actions.
Aliyev demonstrated his militaristic "optimism" during the parade.
When Azerbaijani flag was carried in the announcer expressed his
confidence that "it will be soon unfurled over Karabakh, over Khankendi
(in Azerbaijanis' dreams it is the name of Stepanakert, the capital
of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic).
As a result, less than two days after talks in Kazan, which the
mediators have dared to announce as a turning point, Azerbaijani
authorities showed geopolitical actors that they do not care for any
calls to resolve Karabakh conflict peacefully and without delay.
On the contrary - the militarization of the country will continue
and Azerbaijan will remain a real threat to peace and security in
the region.
This is the Gordian Knot of current situation over the Nagorno-Karabakh
settlement. Yerevan is ready to make reasonable concessions, while
Baku is eager to return to 1988, thus disrupting the peace process.
Thus, the regional situation seems to be rather complicated. Moreover,
the Azerbaijani authorities have managed to cheat such geopolitical
antagonists, as the U.S. and Russia.
Washington did not succeed in the Armenian-Turkish process, which,
as the saying goes was failed by Turkey's "young brother" Azerbaijan.
Then, not even getting sanctions from the West, Baku decided it is
high time to tarnish Moscow's reputation in the region. The situation
appeared too dull for Moscow. First Aliyev said he appreciated personal
participation of Dmitry Medvedev in negotiations but then disrupts
them in Medvedev's territory.
As a result, major geopolitical players are faced with a task: what
should they do with rebellious Azerbaijan which is not playing the
game by rules, cheating everyone and is willing to unleash new war
in the region.
The Kazan meeting's result is obvious: it is impossible to make
Azerbaijan come to senses just by voicing calls and persuasions.
Moscow and Washington must take more serious measures.