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MELIK-SHAHNAZARIAN: NEW THEORIES OF CONFLICT SETTLEMENT ADVANCED
Friday,
September
27
'The negotiating process on the Karabakh conflict settlement has
recently been at a deadlock, while international mediators don't show
activity due to the upcoming presidential elections in Azerbaijan. Yet
various international research centers have advanced new theories
of the conflict settlement. For example, the last report of the
International Crisis Group contains some approaches ,which are
dangerous for the Armenian side's position," political scientist
Hrant Melik-Shahnazarian said at a meeting with reporters today.
In his words, expert circles of the West try to equate the actions
of Armenia and Azerbaijan. The political scientist noted that the
extradition of Ramil Safarov and his glorification by Azerbaijan
have always been perceived as the main reason of the collapse of the
Karabakh conflict negotiating process, but in parallel with it, an
attempt is now being made to present the plans to operate Stenakert
airport as a factor.
"This thesis was already advanced in the report released by the
International Crisis Group yesterday. The studies, which were conducted
by the United Royal Services Institute for Defense and Security Studies
(RUSI) and financed by Azerbaijani side, contain the same thesis. They
are trying to develop that thesis and move it to the political arena,'
the expert noted.
According to H. Melik-Shahnazarian, the second thesis is one about
inefficient activities of the OSCE Minsk Group, that is to say,
the Minsk Group has for years failed to contribute to the conflict
settlement and the format of negotiations should therefore be changed.
"Azerbaijan is really interested in expanding the format of the OSCE
Minsk Group because its main ally and elder brother - Turkey is not a
Co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group and has no opportunity to be engaged
in active politics in the South Caucasus. The Azerbaijani side tries
to stir up activity at the Armenian-Azerbaijani border by taking
subversive actions so that those theses would not be unfounded. It
aims to show to the international community that the conflict was
not frozen," Melik-Shahnazarian said.
As regards the third thesis, the political scientist stressed
that Azerbaijan tries to show that although Armenia won the war,
nevertheless it has lost in the wide sense as it lags behind by
its economic indices. According to the political scientist, in this
context, data about economic progress, Azerbaijan's defense budget,
etc. are constantly announced.
"These theses are now being advanced at an expert level. They will
become an information factor, but I am convinced that with the lapse
of time they will become a political factor as well so we should
struggle against this," he stated.
TODAY, 18:18
Aysor.am
Friday,
September
27
'The negotiating process on the Karabakh conflict settlement has
recently been at a deadlock, while international mediators don't show
activity due to the upcoming presidential elections in Azerbaijan. Yet
various international research centers have advanced new theories
of the conflict settlement. For example, the last report of the
International Crisis Group contains some approaches ,which are
dangerous for the Armenian side's position," political scientist
Hrant Melik-Shahnazarian said at a meeting with reporters today.
In his words, expert circles of the West try to equate the actions
of Armenia and Azerbaijan. The political scientist noted that the
extradition of Ramil Safarov and his glorification by Azerbaijan
have always been perceived as the main reason of the collapse of the
Karabakh conflict negotiating process, but in parallel with it, an
attempt is now being made to present the plans to operate Stenakert
airport as a factor.
"This thesis was already advanced in the report released by the
International Crisis Group yesterday. The studies, which were conducted
by the United Royal Services Institute for Defense and Security Studies
(RUSI) and financed by Azerbaijani side, contain the same thesis. They
are trying to develop that thesis and move it to the political arena,'
the expert noted.
According to H. Melik-Shahnazarian, the second thesis is one about
inefficient activities of the OSCE Minsk Group, that is to say,
the Minsk Group has for years failed to contribute to the conflict
settlement and the format of negotiations should therefore be changed.
"Azerbaijan is really interested in expanding the format of the OSCE
Minsk Group because its main ally and elder brother - Turkey is not a
Co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group and has no opportunity to be engaged
in active politics in the South Caucasus. The Azerbaijani side tries
to stir up activity at the Armenian-Azerbaijani border by taking
subversive actions so that those theses would not be unfounded. It
aims to show to the international community that the conflict was
not frozen," Melik-Shahnazarian said.
As regards the third thesis, the political scientist stressed
that Azerbaijan tries to show that although Armenia won the war,
nevertheless it has lost in the wide sense as it lags behind by
its economic indices. According to the political scientist, in this
context, data about economic progress, Azerbaijan's defense budget,
etc. are constantly announced.
"These theses are now being advanced at an expert level. They will
become an information factor, but I am convinced that with the lapse
of time they will become a political factor as well so we should
struggle against this," he stated.
TODAY, 18:18
Aysor.am