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FIKRET SADYKHOV AND ALEXANDER ISKANDARYAN: WHO SHOULD MAKE THE FIRST STEP IN RESOLVING NAGORNO -KARABAKH CONFLICT?
Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Sept 16 2013
16 September 2013 - 6:35pm
The first week of the new co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group,
James Warlick, who delivered President Barack Obama's call for
direct dialogue between Azerbaijan and Armenia, resulted in another
deterioration of the situation associated with visits by citizens of
the European Union to the occupied territories of Nagorno-Karabakh. On
Friday, Bundestag deputy Jurgen Klimke visited Karabakh, his actions
have already been condemned by the ruling German CDU/CSU faction.
In a situation where the contradictions are growing, VK asked experts
from Azerbaijan and Armenia, Professor Fikret Sadykhov and director
of the Caucasus Institute Alexander Iskandaryan, to talk about who
in the present situation should make the first step towards resolving
the conflict.
Sadykhov primarily emphasized that Azerbaijan has repeatedly
demonstrated its willingness to cooperate constructively by adopting
the principles of the agreements and negotiations in Prague
and Madrid. "There are the updated "Madrid principles". What is
their essence? The problem is solved in two stages. At first, the
occupied Azerbaijani territories are freed. At the second stage of
the negotiation process, refugees return to their homes, and the
negotiation process on the Nagorno- Karabakh conflict is conducted
on the basis of te norms and principles of international law," the
expert reminded of the existing diplomatic conditions for a peaceful
settlement of the conflict.
Iskandaryan, in turn, drew attention to the fact that a peaceful
resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict will move forward only
when both sides are willing to make concessions. "You know, it depends
what you call a settlement. Naturally, if tomorrow somebody proposed
that the whole of Karabakh is deported, and everything is free, and
Azerbaijanis can have the land, of course, Azerbaijan would agree. Or
if somebody was to offer Armenia that the independence of Karabakh is
proclaimed and recognized by Azerbaijan, Armenia would also agree. But
it's not serious, nobody will make such an offer. A settlement entails
real concessions from both sides. There will be losses. Azerbaijan
is not ready for the extent of losses that Azerbaijan would suffer,
Armenia is not ready for the extent of losses that Armenia would
suffer. The same applies to Karabakh. Accordingly, any real settlement
does not seem likely today," the analyst explained his opinion.
http://vestnikkavkaza.net/news/politics/45161.html
Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Sept 16 2013
16 September 2013 - 6:35pm
The first week of the new co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group,
James Warlick, who delivered President Barack Obama's call for
direct dialogue between Azerbaijan and Armenia, resulted in another
deterioration of the situation associated with visits by citizens of
the European Union to the occupied territories of Nagorno-Karabakh. On
Friday, Bundestag deputy Jurgen Klimke visited Karabakh, his actions
have already been condemned by the ruling German CDU/CSU faction.
In a situation where the contradictions are growing, VK asked experts
from Azerbaijan and Armenia, Professor Fikret Sadykhov and director
of the Caucasus Institute Alexander Iskandaryan, to talk about who
in the present situation should make the first step towards resolving
the conflict.
Sadykhov primarily emphasized that Azerbaijan has repeatedly
demonstrated its willingness to cooperate constructively by adopting
the principles of the agreements and negotiations in Prague
and Madrid. "There are the updated "Madrid principles". What is
their essence? The problem is solved in two stages. At first, the
occupied Azerbaijani territories are freed. At the second stage of
the negotiation process, refugees return to their homes, and the
negotiation process on the Nagorno- Karabakh conflict is conducted
on the basis of te norms and principles of international law," the
expert reminded of the existing diplomatic conditions for a peaceful
settlement of the conflict.
Iskandaryan, in turn, drew attention to the fact that a peaceful
resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict will move forward only
when both sides are willing to make concessions. "You know, it depends
what you call a settlement. Naturally, if tomorrow somebody proposed
that the whole of Karabakh is deported, and everything is free, and
Azerbaijanis can have the land, of course, Azerbaijan would agree. Or
if somebody was to offer Armenia that the independence of Karabakh is
proclaimed and recognized by Azerbaijan, Armenia would also agree. But
it's not serious, nobody will make such an offer. A settlement entails
real concessions from both sides. There will be losses. Azerbaijan
is not ready for the extent of losses that Azerbaijan would suffer,
Armenia is not ready for the extent of losses that Armenia would
suffer. The same applies to Karabakh. Accordingly, any real settlement
does not seem likely today," the analyst explained his opinion.
http://vestnikkavkaza.net/news/politics/45161.html