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Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Jan 27 2015
Heiko Langner: contrary to Merkel, Russia helps settle the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
27 January 2015 - 12:30pm
"Russia is not a party of the international Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
between Armenia and Azerbaijan, but does play the role of the most
important mediator of peace within the framework of the OSCE Minsk
Group," political analyst Berlin Heiko Langner told a reporter of
Vestnik Kavkaza, commenting on Angela Merkel's statement on the
participation of Russia in this conflict.
On January 21 during a joint press conference after meeting with the
Azerbaijani President, Angela Merkel touched on Russia's role in the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, saying that Russia and Armenia are working
together on some aspects.
"Russia plays an important role in this conflict. Armenia and Russia
stick to a common position on this issue, so you can assume that we
have a unified approach," she pointed out.
"The statements by German Chancellor Angela Merkel at a joint press
conference with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on the policy of
Russia in the South Caucasus could cause confusion and are not useful
for the peace efforts of the OSCE," Heiko Langner says.
The expert expressed confusion at the position of the Chancellor of
Germany. "The EU has not yet found it necessary to impose sanctions
against Armenia in connection with the military occupation of
Azerbaijani territory. It is unclear why the Chancellor of Germany,
speaking on the role of Russia in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict at the
moment, emphasizes a unified approach of the policy of comprehensive
sanctions imposed by the EU against Moscow and rendered in connection
with the current conflict in Ukraine," he wondered.
According to Langner, Merkel's point of view on Russia's role in the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict hardly corresponds to reality, and her
application cannot be considered as constructive.
"The federal government in its responses to several parliamentary
initiatives has always emphasized that it will support Russia's
efforts to mediate in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. And if we want to
make progress, that's how it's supposed to be. The resolution of the
conflict is already quite heavy, and it is important that members of
the Minsk Group hold a common position," the expert said.
Germany's position on the Crimean issue, according to Langner, is thus
in contradiction with its position on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
"The German Federal Government should define its position in another
important aspect: it has clearly criticized the inclusion of Crimea
into Russia and affirmed the territorial integrity of Ukraine. In the
case of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the Government of Germany
expressed extreme caution, although the international legal situation
is also evident there. Armenia's occupation policy has been violating
the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan for more than 20 years, and
this should be clearly stated," he explained.
"Anything else will be a policy of double standards. Even the United
Nations, trying to speak in the most diplomatic way, has clearly
expressed its position on several resolutions on the conflict. And
Germany should not lag behind," Heiko Langner concluded.
According to Langner, Merkel's point of view on Russia's role in the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict hardly corresponds to reality, and her
application cannot be considered as constructive. "The federal
government in its responses to several parliamentary initiatives has
always emphasized that it will support Russia's efforts to mediate in
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. And if we want to make progress, that's
how it's supposed to be. The resolution of the conflict is already
quite heavy, and it is important that members of the Minsk Group hold
a common position," the expert said.
Germany's position on the Crimean issue, according to Langner, is thus
in contradiction with its position on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
"The German Federal Government should define its position in another
important aspect: it has clearly criticized the inclusion of Crimea
into Russia and affirmed the territorial integrity of Ukraine. In the
case of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the Government of Germany
expressed extreme caution, although the international legal situation
is also evident there. Armenia's occupation policy has been violating
the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan for more than 20 years, and
this should be clearly stated," he explained.
"Anything else will be a policy of double standards. Even the United
Nations, trying to speak in the most diplomatic way, has clearly
expressed its position on several resolutions on the conflict. And
Germany should not lag behind," Heiko Langner concluded.
http://vestnikkavkaza.net/news/politics/65318.html
Jan 27 2015
Heiko Langner: contrary to Merkel, Russia helps settle the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
27 January 2015 - 12:30pm
"Russia is not a party of the international Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
between Armenia and Azerbaijan, but does play the role of the most
important mediator of peace within the framework of the OSCE Minsk
Group," political analyst Berlin Heiko Langner told a reporter of
Vestnik Kavkaza, commenting on Angela Merkel's statement on the
participation of Russia in this conflict.
On January 21 during a joint press conference after meeting with the
Azerbaijani President, Angela Merkel touched on Russia's role in the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, saying that Russia and Armenia are working
together on some aspects.
"Russia plays an important role in this conflict. Armenia and Russia
stick to a common position on this issue, so you can assume that we
have a unified approach," she pointed out.
"The statements by German Chancellor Angela Merkel at a joint press
conference with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on the policy of
Russia in the South Caucasus could cause confusion and are not useful
for the peace efforts of the OSCE," Heiko Langner says.
The expert expressed confusion at the position of the Chancellor of
Germany. "The EU has not yet found it necessary to impose sanctions
against Armenia in connection with the military occupation of
Azerbaijani territory. It is unclear why the Chancellor of Germany,
speaking on the role of Russia in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict at the
moment, emphasizes a unified approach of the policy of comprehensive
sanctions imposed by the EU against Moscow and rendered in connection
with the current conflict in Ukraine," he wondered.
According to Langner, Merkel's point of view on Russia's role in the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict hardly corresponds to reality, and her
application cannot be considered as constructive.
"The federal government in its responses to several parliamentary
initiatives has always emphasized that it will support Russia's
efforts to mediate in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. And if we want to
make progress, that's how it's supposed to be. The resolution of the
conflict is already quite heavy, and it is important that members of
the Minsk Group hold a common position," the expert said.
Germany's position on the Crimean issue, according to Langner, is thus
in contradiction with its position on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
"The German Federal Government should define its position in another
important aspect: it has clearly criticized the inclusion of Crimea
into Russia and affirmed the territorial integrity of Ukraine. In the
case of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the Government of Germany
expressed extreme caution, although the international legal situation
is also evident there. Armenia's occupation policy has been violating
the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan for more than 20 years, and
this should be clearly stated," he explained.
"Anything else will be a policy of double standards. Even the United
Nations, trying to speak in the most diplomatic way, has clearly
expressed its position on several resolutions on the conflict. And
Germany should not lag behind," Heiko Langner concluded.
According to Langner, Merkel's point of view on Russia's role in the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict hardly corresponds to reality, and her
application cannot be considered as constructive. "The federal
government in its responses to several parliamentary initiatives has
always emphasized that it will support Russia's efforts to mediate in
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. And if we want to make progress, that's
how it's supposed to be. The resolution of the conflict is already
quite heavy, and it is important that members of the Minsk Group hold
a common position," the expert said.
Germany's position on the Crimean issue, according to Langner, is thus
in contradiction with its position on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
"The German Federal Government should define its position in another
important aspect: it has clearly criticized the inclusion of Crimea
into Russia and affirmed the territorial integrity of Ukraine. In the
case of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the Government of Germany
expressed extreme caution, although the international legal situation
is also evident there. Armenia's occupation policy has been violating
the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan for more than 20 years, and
this should be clearly stated," he explained.
"Anything else will be a policy of double standards. Even the United
Nations, trying to speak in the most diplomatic way, has clearly
expressed its position on several resolutions on the conflict. And
Germany should not lag behind," Heiko Langner concluded.
http://vestnikkavkaza.net/news/politics/65318.html