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POLITICAL ANALYST: PROGRESS IN KARABAKH SETTLEMENT UNLIKELY IN NEAR FUTURE
/ARKA/
September 2, 2011
YEREVAN
Alexander Iskandaryan, political analyst and director of Caucasus
Institute, find significant progress in Karabakh conflict settlement
very unlikely within the next few years.
"I see no room for settling this conflict today," he said Thursday at
a news conference. "If we view the settlement as official recognition
of Nagorno-Karabakh republic's independence by Baku, I see no reasons
and grounds for Azerbaijan to do this. It doesn't mean that this will
never happen, but at least now, in the near future such a thing is
very unlikely."
Iskandaryan thinks that the current situation very long will remain
the same, since stances taken by Baku and Yerevan on the mater are
too far from each other. This distance gives no room for negotiations.
The political analyst said that talks would continue under Russia's
mediation, but they would hardly produce any result.
"Even of Azerbaijan signs any document, this will be a document with
nothing written on it," he said.
Iskandaryan said that the talks have two aims - to retain contacts
between Armenia and Azerbaijan and to internationalize Karabakh
problem.
"OSCE Minsk Group is successfully fulfilling its mission in terms of
these objectives" he said.
The expert also added that he doesn't take talk about Azerbaijani
refugees' return to Karabakh seriously.
"This talk will remain talk unless there are no political decisions,"
he said.
Karabakh conflict broke out in 1988 when Karabakh, mainly populated
by Armenians, declared its independence from Azerbaijan.
On December 10, 1991, a few days after the collapse of the Soviet
Union, a referendum took place in Nagorno-Karabakh, and the majority
of the population (99.89%) voted for secession from Azerbaijan.
Afterwards, large-scale military operations began. As a result,
Azerbaijan lost control over Nagorno-Karabakh and the seven regions
adjacent to it.
Some 30,000 people were killed in this war and about one million
people fled their homes.
On May 12, 1994, the Bishkek cease-fire agreement put an end to the
military operations.
Since 1992, talks brokered by OSCE Minsk Group are being held over
peaceful settlement of the conflict. The group is co-chaired by USA,
Russia and France.
/ARKA/
September 2, 2011
YEREVAN
Alexander Iskandaryan, political analyst and director of Caucasus
Institute, find significant progress in Karabakh conflict settlement
very unlikely within the next few years.
"I see no room for settling this conflict today," he said Thursday at
a news conference. "If we view the settlement as official recognition
of Nagorno-Karabakh republic's independence by Baku, I see no reasons
and grounds for Azerbaijan to do this. It doesn't mean that this will
never happen, but at least now, in the near future such a thing is
very unlikely."
Iskandaryan thinks that the current situation very long will remain
the same, since stances taken by Baku and Yerevan on the mater are
too far from each other. This distance gives no room for negotiations.
The political analyst said that talks would continue under Russia's
mediation, but they would hardly produce any result.
"Even of Azerbaijan signs any document, this will be a document with
nothing written on it," he said.
Iskandaryan said that the talks have two aims - to retain contacts
between Armenia and Azerbaijan and to internationalize Karabakh
problem.
"OSCE Minsk Group is successfully fulfilling its mission in terms of
these objectives" he said.
The expert also added that he doesn't take talk about Azerbaijani
refugees' return to Karabakh seriously.
"This talk will remain talk unless there are no political decisions,"
he said.
Karabakh conflict broke out in 1988 when Karabakh, mainly populated
by Armenians, declared its independence from Azerbaijan.
On December 10, 1991, a few days after the collapse of the Soviet
Union, a referendum took place in Nagorno-Karabakh, and the majority
of the population (99.89%) voted for secession from Azerbaijan.
Afterwards, large-scale military operations began. As a result,
Azerbaijan lost control over Nagorno-Karabakh and the seven regions
adjacent to it.
Some 30,000 people were killed in this war and about one million
people fled their homes.
On May 12, 1994, the Bishkek cease-fire agreement put an end to the
military operations.
Since 1992, talks brokered by OSCE Minsk Group are being held over
peaceful settlement of the conflict. The group is co-chaired by USA,
Russia and France.