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ANALYSIS: U.S. STEPPING UP EFFORTS ON KARABAKH AS ARMENIA OPTS FOR INTEGRATION WITH RUSSIA
KARABAKH | 11.09.13 | 09:28
Photolure
By NAIRA HAYRUMYAN
ArmeniaNow correspondent
The new American co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group James Warlick
alone, without his Russian and French colleagues, has visited the
region of the conflict where he has already met with the leadership
of Azerbaijan in Baku, the Armenian foreign minister in Yerevan and
intends to participate in a line-of-contact monitoring in Karabakh.
The fact that the negotiator came alone is explained by his recent
appointment (only about a month ago) and desire to see the situation
on the ground. However, there are also opinions that after the sharp
move by Armenia towards Russia, Washington has decided to redouble
its efforts in the region, at least in order to avoid preventive
steps from Russia.
If Russia has given certain guarantees on the matter of Karabakh's
security, soon these guarantees must somehow be manifested. This was
stated a few days ago by Deputy Prime Minister of the NKR, former
Deputy Defense Minister of Armenia Artur Aghabekyan. He did not
specify what kind of guarantees those were, but information has already
appeared in the press about the operation of the Stepanakert airport
(for both civilian and military purposes), as well as deployment
of a peacekeeping contingent of Russia or the Russia-led Collective
Security Treaty Organization in Karabakh.
The United States would be concerned about such a prospect, and
it is not by accident that Warlick gave Ilham Alive a letter from
President Obama that reads: "I support your efforts to take advantage
of opportunities for direct dialogue with Armenia in the months ahead,
and to avail yourself of the co-chairs' time and expertise to move
beyond the current impasse in negotiations. With the outlines of a
compromise already well established, now is the time for a renewed
effort to bring peace to the region."
Aliyev has only a few months to go before his second consecutive term
in office ends and now he is seeking a third term in office in next
month's elections. Obama, apparently, hints to Aliyev that he will
have to find some sort of solution during his next term and that
solution, as he made it clear in the message, should be based on a
compromise. It is yet unclear what Russia's opinion is on this matter.
After the declaration by President Serzh Sargsyan of Armenia's
willingness to join the Russia-led Customs Union, official Moscow has
not yet made any statements on Karabakh. Armenian Minister of Foreign
Affairs Edward Nalbandian said only during his meeting in parliament
on Tuesday that Karabakh will not suffer because of Armenia's accession
to the Customs Union.
KARABAKH | 11.09.13 | 09:28
Photolure
By NAIRA HAYRUMYAN
ArmeniaNow correspondent
The new American co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group James Warlick
alone, without his Russian and French colleagues, has visited the
region of the conflict where he has already met with the leadership
of Azerbaijan in Baku, the Armenian foreign minister in Yerevan and
intends to participate in a line-of-contact monitoring in Karabakh.
The fact that the negotiator came alone is explained by his recent
appointment (only about a month ago) and desire to see the situation
on the ground. However, there are also opinions that after the sharp
move by Armenia towards Russia, Washington has decided to redouble
its efforts in the region, at least in order to avoid preventive
steps from Russia.
If Russia has given certain guarantees on the matter of Karabakh's
security, soon these guarantees must somehow be manifested. This was
stated a few days ago by Deputy Prime Minister of the NKR, former
Deputy Defense Minister of Armenia Artur Aghabekyan. He did not
specify what kind of guarantees those were, but information has already
appeared in the press about the operation of the Stepanakert airport
(for both civilian and military purposes), as well as deployment
of a peacekeeping contingent of Russia or the Russia-led Collective
Security Treaty Organization in Karabakh.
The United States would be concerned about such a prospect, and
it is not by accident that Warlick gave Ilham Alive a letter from
President Obama that reads: "I support your efforts to take advantage
of opportunities for direct dialogue with Armenia in the months ahead,
and to avail yourself of the co-chairs' time and expertise to move
beyond the current impasse in negotiations. With the outlines of a
compromise already well established, now is the time for a renewed
effort to bring peace to the region."
Aliyev has only a few months to go before his second consecutive term
in office ends and now he is seeking a third term in office in next
month's elections. Obama, apparently, hints to Aliyev that he will
have to find some sort of solution during his next term and that
solution, as he made it clear in the message, should be based on a
compromise. It is yet unclear what Russia's opinion is on this matter.
After the declaration by President Serzh Sargsyan of Armenia's
willingness to join the Russia-led Customs Union, official Moscow has
not yet made any statements on Karabakh. Armenian Minister of Foreign
Affairs Edward Nalbandian said only during his meeting in parliament
on Tuesday that Karabakh will not suffer because of Armenia's accession
to the Customs Union.