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When Mediators Get Bored

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  • When Mediators Get Bored

    WHEN MEDIATORS GET BORED
    Naira Hayrumyan

    Story from Lragir.am News:
    http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/politics26871.html
    Published: 14:44:40 - 17/07/2012

    Neither Armenia nor Karabakh reacted to the statement by the Co-Chairs
    of the OSCE Minsk Group relating to the opening of the Stepanakert
    airport. Though the statement was a sensation. The feeling was that
    the mediators had really discussed in Baku the issue on the security of
    flights and soon maybe even on July 19, on the day of the presidential
    elections in Karabakh, the first flight will be held.

    But Azerbaijan has already stated that any flight will be considered
    encroachment on the air space of their country and relevant measures
    will be taken up. The issue on the opening of the airport which is
    already ready to be exploited is hanging in the air.

    While the issue on the possible steps by the mediators in case
    Azerbaijan keeps rejecting all the initiatives and "confidence
    measures" have been clarified. Baku rejected the proposal on the
    withdrawal of snipers from the front line and on the creation of
    mechanisms to investigate the border incidents, and the signing of a
    non-aggression pact. Now, it is threatening to hit Karabakh aircrafts.

    Apparently, a couple of more rejections, and the mediators will have
    to state that it is senseless to negotiate with Aliyev. Then the
    only version will be Karabakh's international recognition with all
    its consequences.

    Baku's refusal causes one more interesting nuance. As we know,
    Azerbaijan, along with Turkey, keeps periodically stating that the
    first step should be the withdrawal of the Armenian troops from
    Karabahk. Perhaps, this is the condition that Azerbaijan put forward
    in exchange of the "permission" to open the airport. But, apparently
    the Armenian party refused. Though it is more likely that the mediators
    themselves insisted on their position.

    The rejection by the mediators to dwell on the issue of withdrawal of
    the Armenian troops from Karabakh makes Baku especially nervous. On
    these days, Azerbaijan's foreign minister Elmar Mamedyarov expressed
    doubts relating to the effectiveness of the activities of the Minsk
    Group. Baku has not yet understood that none of the mediators is
    interested in the return of territories to Azerbaijan. The most they
    would do is to suspend the recognition of the NKR and keep the status
    quo. But this time will come especially is Baku keeps pushing the
    mediators to do that so hardly.

    As to the airport, then along with the fact that it is really necessary
    to the population of Karabakh who can communicate with the foreign
    world only on land, the airport is necessary also to the mediators. It
    is difficult to say why, there can be different versions starting from
    transport of military shipment to Afghanistan for the West and ending
    with the supply of military shipment for the Russian troops. Most
    likely, Baku is against these versions.

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