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BROK: ARMENIA & AZERBAIJAN ARE HOSTAGES OF MOSCOW?S POLICY
Turan Information Agency, Azerbaijan
September 24, 2013 Tuesday
Brussels /23.09.13/Turan : Moscow uses the Karabakh conflict as an
instrument of pressure on Armenia and Azerbaijan, and is not interested
in its settlement, according to Elmar Brok, head of the Committee
for External Relations of the European Parliament, at a meeting on
Saturday with a group of journalists from the "Eastern Partnership".
"Moscow uses protracted conflicts to realize its interests in a
particular region. The priority for Russia is to implement its own
interests, rather than the conflict, as in Transnistria and Nagorno-
Karabakh," he said. The best recent example of this is the case of
Armenia, when Yerevan was actually forced to join the Customs Union
with Russia.
"We respect the choice of the country, but if it is a free choice.
However, Armenia's decision was dictated by the condition to Yerevan,
namely, in the case of the signing the Association Agreement with
the European Union, you will lose Karabakh," said Brok.
He expressed regret regarding that specific Kremlin policy, which
historically holds a similar policy towards its neighbors and
partners. "Russia promised Angela Merkel to solve the Transnistrian
conflict, to remove the tension in the center of Europe, but did
not do anything," Brok said, noting the same behavior from Moscow in
relation to the settlement in Karabakh.
When asked how he assesses the prospects of the Karabakh settlement
in a similar situation, Brok said that Armenia and Azerbaijan have
no choice but to make concessions to each other.
"To break this vicious circle both sides should make joint and
simultaneous steps towards each other. The situation in Azerbaijan
is better, it has some serious resources. However, if the conflict
resumes, both sides will be in the position of the losers. Therefore,
the parties need to seek rapprochement and reconciliation," said
Elmar Brok. -02Â-
From: Baghdasarian
Turan Information Agency, Azerbaijan
September 24, 2013 Tuesday
Brussels /23.09.13/Turan : Moscow uses the Karabakh conflict as an
instrument of pressure on Armenia and Azerbaijan, and is not interested
in its settlement, according to Elmar Brok, head of the Committee
for External Relations of the European Parliament, at a meeting on
Saturday with a group of journalists from the "Eastern Partnership".
"Moscow uses protracted conflicts to realize its interests in a
particular region. The priority for Russia is to implement its own
interests, rather than the conflict, as in Transnistria and Nagorno-
Karabakh," he said. The best recent example of this is the case of
Armenia, when Yerevan was actually forced to join the Customs Union
with Russia.
"We respect the choice of the country, but if it is a free choice.
However, Armenia's decision was dictated by the condition to Yerevan,
namely, in the case of the signing the Association Agreement with
the European Union, you will lose Karabakh," said Brok.
He expressed regret regarding that specific Kremlin policy, which
historically holds a similar policy towards its neighbors and
partners. "Russia promised Angela Merkel to solve the Transnistrian
conflict, to remove the tension in the center of Europe, but did
not do anything," Brok said, noting the same behavior from Moscow in
relation to the settlement in Karabakh.
When asked how he assesses the prospects of the Karabakh settlement
in a similar situation, Brok said that Armenia and Azerbaijan have
no choice but to make concessions to each other.
"To break this vicious circle both sides should make joint and
simultaneous steps towards each other. The situation in Azerbaijan
is better, it has some serious resources. However, if the conflict
resumes, both sides will be in the position of the losers. Therefore,
the parties need to seek rapprochement and reconciliation," said
Elmar Brok. -02Â-
From: Baghdasarian