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CRISIS GROUP WARNS AGAINST ESCALATION OF VIOLENCE OVER KARABAKH CONFLICT
AzerNews, Azerbaijan
Sept 26 2013
26 September 2013, 18:34 (GMT+05:00)
By Sara Rajabova
The international Crisis Group has recently prepared a report on the
Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
"Confrontation, low-intensity but volatile, between Armenia and
Azerbaijan has entered a period of heightened sensitivity," the
report said.
According to the report, the peace talks on Nagorno-Karabakh bogged
down in 2011, which lead to strident rhetoric.
The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict emerged in 1988 when Armenia made
territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Since a lengthy war in the early
1990s that displaced over one million Azerbaijanis, Armenian armed
forces have occupied over 20 percent of Azerbaijan's internationally
recognized territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent
regions.
"An immediate concern is military miscalculation, because their
consequences will be quite dangerous, as the South Caucasus, a region
where big powers compete for influence, is now also a major energy
corridor. Vigorous international engagement is needed to lessen chances
of violent escalation during coming weeks and months," the report said.
According to the authors, the strong and coordinated international
pressure needed to break the diplomatic deadlock is lacking.
"There is scepticism in both capitals, as well as among
third-countries, that the officially designated mediators from the
OSCE Minsk Group - led by Russia, the U.S. and France - can deliver
results," the report said.
Recall that peace talks, through the OSCE Minsk Group, are underway
on the basis of a peace outline proposed by the Minsk Group co-chairs
and dubbed the Madrid Principles. The negotiations have been largely
fruitless so far.
The report authors criticized the arms supplies to the sides of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
The report also included the recommendation for the reducing tension
and settlement of the conflict.
According to the authors, diplomacy by the Minsk Group co-chairs, the
European Union (EU) and others should be accompanied by international
engagement highlighting the risk of miscalculations and the huge
costs for both sides of resumed hostilities.
It also said intensified regular contacts as well as meetings between
ministers and parliamentarians can help in this regard.
Furthermore, the report said that as a modest confidence builder,
Armenia and Azerbaijan should step up efforts via the International
Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to address prisoner of war issues.
Finally, according to the authors, Russia, which is highly influential
in all aspects of the conflict, should act more decisively to broker
an agreement.
The document authors believe that Moscow should announce a suspension
of arms supplies to both sides. Other suppliers, including South
Korea and Israel, should be encouraged to do the same, the report said.
AzerNews, Azerbaijan
Sept 26 2013
26 September 2013, 18:34 (GMT+05:00)
By Sara Rajabova
The international Crisis Group has recently prepared a report on the
Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
"Confrontation, low-intensity but volatile, between Armenia and
Azerbaijan has entered a period of heightened sensitivity," the
report said.
According to the report, the peace talks on Nagorno-Karabakh bogged
down in 2011, which lead to strident rhetoric.
The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict emerged in 1988 when Armenia made
territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Since a lengthy war in the early
1990s that displaced over one million Azerbaijanis, Armenian armed
forces have occupied over 20 percent of Azerbaijan's internationally
recognized territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent
regions.
"An immediate concern is military miscalculation, because their
consequences will be quite dangerous, as the South Caucasus, a region
where big powers compete for influence, is now also a major energy
corridor. Vigorous international engagement is needed to lessen chances
of violent escalation during coming weeks and months," the report said.
According to the authors, the strong and coordinated international
pressure needed to break the diplomatic deadlock is lacking.
"There is scepticism in both capitals, as well as among
third-countries, that the officially designated mediators from the
OSCE Minsk Group - led by Russia, the U.S. and France - can deliver
results," the report said.
Recall that peace talks, through the OSCE Minsk Group, are underway
on the basis of a peace outline proposed by the Minsk Group co-chairs
and dubbed the Madrid Principles. The negotiations have been largely
fruitless so far.
The report authors criticized the arms supplies to the sides of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
The report also included the recommendation for the reducing tension
and settlement of the conflict.
According to the authors, diplomacy by the Minsk Group co-chairs, the
European Union (EU) and others should be accompanied by international
engagement highlighting the risk of miscalculations and the huge
costs for both sides of resumed hostilities.
It also said intensified regular contacts as well as meetings between
ministers and parliamentarians can help in this regard.
Furthermore, the report said that as a modest confidence builder,
Armenia and Azerbaijan should step up efforts via the International
Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to address prisoner of war issues.
Finally, according to the authors, Russia, which is highly influential
in all aspects of the conflict, should act more decisively to broker
an agreement.
The document authors believe that Moscow should announce a suspension
of arms supplies to both sides. Other suppliers, including South
Korea and Israel, should be encouraged to do the same, the report said.