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'PEACEFUL RESOLUTION OF KARABAKH CONFLICT COULD BRING MANY BENEFITS TO EU'
news.az
Nov 28 2011
Azerbaijan
News.Az interviews Azer Babayev, Doctor of Political Science, Research
Fellow at the Peace Research Institute Frankfurt (PRIF).
EU has recently intensified efforts in Karabakh settlement. Do you
think that EU's possible mediation in Karabakh settlement will promote
progress in settlement of this conflict?
I think, any strong commitment of the EU could be certainly
a substantial contribution to a peaceful resolution of the
Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict. This is primarily because the EU enjoys
a high credibility as "honest broker" and is considered by the both
conflict parties to be more trustworthy than Russia or even the US -
the most important mediators in the negotiation process at the present
point of time. However, I don't see such a will or capacity on EU's
side yet, particularly as Brussels is preoccupied with itself due
the euro crisis nowadays.
What political dividends can EU expect, if it manages to make
achievements in Karabakh conflict?
A peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict could bring many
benefits to the EU. Primarily, the South Caucasus is a geostrategically
very important region, located in the immediate vicinity of the
EU. Thereby, the EU has important security and stability interests
with regard to this region. Moreover, Azerbaijan, the - particularly
due to its energy resources - most important country of the region,
is directly affected by this conflict. It is in the EU's interest that
the energy resources of the Caspian Sea region find direct access to
the international market without any problem.
And South Caucasus, especially Azerbaijan without the dangerous
Karabakh conflict can offer the best conditions for such a purpose
and possibility.
What can EU offer for Azerbaijan and Armenia to be constructive in
negotiation process?
The most powerful incentive mechanism of the EU is its accession
offer. But it is not realistic that Brussels would offer Azerbaijan
and Armenia a membership perspective in a short or middle term. The
EU can, however, offer both countries in the near future a privileged
partnership on the condition of rapid progress in a peaceful conflict
resolution.
Does Azerbaijan have the opportunity to use its energy resources for
Europe to take an unbiased stance in Karabakh settlement?
Azerbaijan's energy resources are the best political leverage of
its foreign policy. In particular, Baku can use it in the bilateral
relations with the EU, especially in the sense that Brussels commits
itself to do more for a just and peaceful resolution of the conflict.
As is well known, at the present time, Brussels tries - by means of
the Nabucco pipeline project, backed by several European Union states
- to lessen EU dependence on Russian energy in the near future. And
Azerbaijan is considered to be one of the main suppliers for this
pipeline.
Can Serzh Sargsyan's re-election as Armenian president in 2012 promote
his constructive stance in negotiation process around Karabakh?
This is a highly hypothetical question. I can only offer a guess:
during his last term as Armenian President, Sargsyan should envisage a
rapid conflict resolution. The Armenian leadership is certainly aware
that the labile state of 'Neither-War-Nor-Peace' being perceived as
highly unjust by Azerbaijan cannot be permanent. What is more: the
longer a robust peace agreement is postponed, the more likely will
be the escalation of the conflict into a new war. And that cannot be
in anybody's interest.
news.az
Nov 28 2011
Azerbaijan
News.Az interviews Azer Babayev, Doctor of Political Science, Research
Fellow at the Peace Research Institute Frankfurt (PRIF).
EU has recently intensified efforts in Karabakh settlement. Do you
think that EU's possible mediation in Karabakh settlement will promote
progress in settlement of this conflict?
I think, any strong commitment of the EU could be certainly
a substantial contribution to a peaceful resolution of the
Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict. This is primarily because the EU enjoys
a high credibility as "honest broker" and is considered by the both
conflict parties to be more trustworthy than Russia or even the US -
the most important mediators in the negotiation process at the present
point of time. However, I don't see such a will or capacity on EU's
side yet, particularly as Brussels is preoccupied with itself due
the euro crisis nowadays.
What political dividends can EU expect, if it manages to make
achievements in Karabakh conflict?
A peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict could bring many
benefits to the EU. Primarily, the South Caucasus is a geostrategically
very important region, located in the immediate vicinity of the
EU. Thereby, the EU has important security and stability interests
with regard to this region. Moreover, Azerbaijan, the - particularly
due to its energy resources - most important country of the region,
is directly affected by this conflict. It is in the EU's interest that
the energy resources of the Caspian Sea region find direct access to
the international market without any problem.
And South Caucasus, especially Azerbaijan without the dangerous
Karabakh conflict can offer the best conditions for such a purpose
and possibility.
What can EU offer for Azerbaijan and Armenia to be constructive in
negotiation process?
The most powerful incentive mechanism of the EU is its accession
offer. But it is not realistic that Brussels would offer Azerbaijan
and Armenia a membership perspective in a short or middle term. The
EU can, however, offer both countries in the near future a privileged
partnership on the condition of rapid progress in a peaceful conflict
resolution.
Does Azerbaijan have the opportunity to use its energy resources for
Europe to take an unbiased stance in Karabakh settlement?
Azerbaijan's energy resources are the best political leverage of
its foreign policy. In particular, Baku can use it in the bilateral
relations with the EU, especially in the sense that Brussels commits
itself to do more for a just and peaceful resolution of the conflict.
As is well known, at the present time, Brussels tries - by means of
the Nabucco pipeline project, backed by several European Union states
- to lessen EU dependence on Russian energy in the near future. And
Azerbaijan is considered to be one of the main suppliers for this
pipeline.
Can Serzh Sargsyan's re-election as Armenian president in 2012 promote
his constructive stance in negotiation process around Karabakh?
This is a highly hypothetical question. I can only offer a guess:
during his last term as Armenian President, Sargsyan should envisage a
rapid conflict resolution. The Armenian leadership is certainly aware
that the labile state of 'Neither-War-Nor-Peace' being perceived as
highly unjust by Azerbaijan cannot be permanent. What is more: the
longer a robust peace agreement is postponed, the more likely will
be the escalation of the conflict into a new war. And that cannot be
in anybody's interest.