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  • Thomas de Vaal: There are no negotiations as such

    Thomas de Vaal: There are no negotiations as such

    15:04 08.09.2014

    Lena Badeyan
    Public Radio of Armenia


    American expert Thomas de Waal, who has been studying the Nagorno
    Karabakh issue for years, has several proposals, which should be used
    in the negotiations, if the parties want to succeed.

    According to the expert, what happened at the Armenian-Azerbaijani
    border and the line of contact in early August was a simple "show of
    power." He does not exclude, however, that similar actions in, let's
    say, five years could grow into new military conflict and considers
    that this is the most unwanted possible scenario of development.

    Having followed the negotiation process for years, Thomas de Waal
    declared today: "The parties should finally proceed to more serious
    work."

    "What's taking place today has all external expressions of
    negotiations, but there are no talks as such; no strategic issues like
    concessions are being discussed during those meetings," the senior
    associate at the Carnegie Endowment, expert Thomas de Vaal told
    reporters in Yerevan.

    According to him, judging from what Azerbaijan understands under
    concessions, one can assert we have not come a step closer to the
    final solution.

    "Azerbaijan is not interested in resolving the conflict now," said
    Shahin Rzayev the Head of the Baku Office of the Institute for War and
    Peace Reporting, who joined the discussion through Internet.

    "Imagine that tomorrow the Armenians of Karabakh demand protection of
    their rights, democratic elections. This is a headache. In reality,
    the settlement of the Karabakh issue is not a priority not only for
    the US and the European Union, but also Azerbaijan and Armenia. This
    is the reason the problem is unsolved," Shahin Rzayev said.

    According to him, personal relations between the Presidents of the two
    countries are another reason. "Aliyev and Sargsyan do not like each
    other," he said.

    Speaking about the future plans, Thomas de Wall said: "The confidence
    level is so low that it is necessary to expand the framework of
    experts. There are 2-3 people from each side engaged in the issue."
    According to him, there are so many issues, which should be addressed
    by separate groups. These include the refugee rights, the issue of
    Lachin, security issues, and, most importantly, the status of
    Karabakh.

    That's why Thomas de Waal supports the proposal of the Swiss party to
    change the format of negotiations and take the meetings from the
    presidential level to different platforms. The expert still connects
    hopes with future meetings, but says those are formal unless some
    minor issues are unsolved.

    The American expert also considers that the Armenian and Azerbaijani
    Presidents should have advisers on issues of Nagorno Karabakh, who
    will seriously engage in the process and will meet more frequently
    than the leaders.


    http://www.armradio.am/en/2014/09/08/thomas-de-vaal-there-are-no-negotiations-as-such/


    From: Baghdasarian
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