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APA, Azerbaijan
Nov 19 2011
International Crisis Group: `New variants and alternatives on the
solution of Nagorno Karabakh conflict have to be considered'
[ 19 Nov 2011 11:49 ]
Baku. Victoria Dementeva - APA. The international community and
countries which have been involved in the peace process need to make
sure the two sides take a calm approach to the situation on the
ground, which is very fluid, which could be destabilized at any time.
Having said that, the status quo, with a significant portion of Azeri
lands occupied by Armenian forces, is not sustainable in the long run.
So in addition to short term steps to stabilize the situation, we need
to be looking at various alternatives and how to move forward without
disturbing the process that has been going on for 17 years. So if that
means stepping out of the box a bit and looking at alternatives which
haven't been put forward previously, new approaches, this is what we
have to do. The status quo as it is now is not sustainable in the long
run, said the Crisis Group's South Caucasus Project Director Lawrence
Sheets.
According to him, there were great hopes that the summit hosted in
Kazan, Russia, in June of this year by President Medvedev of Russia,
which included the presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia, could lead to
a breakthrough after 17 years of talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan
over the Nagorno-Karabakh question: `Unfortunately, we've not seen a
breakthrough, and the ongoing Minsk Group peace process over the last
17 years has slowed down dramatically. In addition, you have what is
essentially an arms race between the various sides, bellicose
rhetoric, ongoing military contingency plans, ongoing military
contingencies, and all this has raised the temperature between the
various sides'.
Speaking about possible restoration of Turkey, Iran and Azerbaijan
military operations he noted: `Our apprehension is that any new
conflict would not simply be a conflict between Azerbaijan and
Armenia. It could turn into a conflict involving regional actors. For
one thing, this is because of the existence of security obligations
between, on the one hand, the Russian Federation and Armenia, and on
the other hand, Turkey and Azerbaijan, which cooperate closely on
military and security matters. Iran, of course, shares a long border
with both Armenia and Azerbaijan. It's unpredictable as to what extent
or how Iran could become involved, but obviously a conflict on its
borders would be hard for Iran to totally ignore'.
He also noted that, the two sides had far more weaponry than they did
in 1994, both offensive and defensive.
Nov 19 2011
International Crisis Group: `New variants and alternatives on the
solution of Nagorno Karabakh conflict have to be considered'
[ 19 Nov 2011 11:49 ]
Baku. Victoria Dementeva - APA. The international community and
countries which have been involved in the peace process need to make
sure the two sides take a calm approach to the situation on the
ground, which is very fluid, which could be destabilized at any time.
Having said that, the status quo, with a significant portion of Azeri
lands occupied by Armenian forces, is not sustainable in the long run.
So in addition to short term steps to stabilize the situation, we need
to be looking at various alternatives and how to move forward without
disturbing the process that has been going on for 17 years. So if that
means stepping out of the box a bit and looking at alternatives which
haven't been put forward previously, new approaches, this is what we
have to do. The status quo as it is now is not sustainable in the long
run, said the Crisis Group's South Caucasus Project Director Lawrence
Sheets.
According to him, there were great hopes that the summit hosted in
Kazan, Russia, in June of this year by President Medvedev of Russia,
which included the presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia, could lead to
a breakthrough after 17 years of talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan
over the Nagorno-Karabakh question: `Unfortunately, we've not seen a
breakthrough, and the ongoing Minsk Group peace process over the last
17 years has slowed down dramatically. In addition, you have what is
essentially an arms race between the various sides, bellicose
rhetoric, ongoing military contingency plans, ongoing military
contingencies, and all this has raised the temperature between the
various sides'.
Speaking about possible restoration of Turkey, Iran and Azerbaijan
military operations he noted: `Our apprehension is that any new
conflict would not simply be a conflict between Azerbaijan and
Armenia. It could turn into a conflict involving regional actors. For
one thing, this is because of the existence of security obligations
between, on the one hand, the Russian Federation and Armenia, and on
the other hand, Turkey and Azerbaijan, which cooperate closely on
military and security matters. Iran, of course, shares a long border
with both Armenia and Azerbaijan. It's unpredictable as to what extent
or how Iran could become involved, but obviously a conflict on its
borders would be hard for Iran to totally ignore'.
He also noted that, the two sides had far more weaponry than they did
in 1994, both offensive and defensive.