Political analyst: Karabakh needs guarantees of non-use of force by Azerbaijan
08.09.2008,
18:12
Guarantees of non-use of force by Azerbaijan became indispensable amid Georgian-Ossetian tension, Suren Zolyan, political analyst and rector of Yerevan State Linguistic University, said at a press conference on Saturday.
YEREVAN, September 8. /ARKA/. Guarantees of non-use of force by Azerbaijan became indispensable amid Georgian-Ossetian tension, Suren Zolyan, political analyst and rector of Yerevan State Linguistic University, said at a press conference on Saturday.
He pointed out developments in South Ossetia as example of ineffectiveness of using force for settling conflicts.
The political analyst finds this guarantee especially important, especially taking into account statements coming from Baku when Georgian-Ossetian tension escalation reached its peak that in May 1994 the sides of Karabakh conflict signed a cease-fire agreement, not truce.
Zolyan said that now such statements are being voiced rarer.
He said the Karabakh process is now in mixed situation – two of OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs – representatives of Russia and the United States – supports independence of formerly unrecognized South Ossetia and Kosovo.
“Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, speaking about principles of territorial integrity and national self-determination right in case of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, prefers the second. Hence, Russia should remain stuck to its stance also in considering Karabakh problem”, Zolyan said.
He also said that Georgian-Ossetian conflict had considerable impact on Karabakh process – Karabakh will be considered as an independent entity building relations with Armenia and Azerbaijan at own discretion.
“Time has come for signing an agreement between Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh Republic on comprehensive cooperation”, he said.
The Karabakh conflict broke out in 1988 when Artsakh, mainly populated by Armenians, declared its independence from Azerbaijan.
On December 10, 1991, a few days after the collapse of the Soviet Union, a referendum took place in Nagorno-Karabakh, and the majority of the population (99.89%) voted for independence from Azerbaijan.
Afterwards, large-scale military operations began, as a result of which Azerbaijan lost control over Nagorno-Karabakh and the seven regions adjacent to it.
On May 12, 1994 after the signing of the Bishkek cease-fire agreement, the military operations were stopped.
Since 1992, negotiations over the peaceful settlement of the conflict have been carried out within the OSCE Minsk Group, co-chaired by the USA, Russia and France.
The recent presidential election in Karabakh took place on July 19, 2007. According to preliminary summary data of the NKR Central Electoral Committee, 59,316 people out of 92,128 (64% of electorate) voted for Bako Sahakian.–0—
He pointed out developments in South Ossetia as example of ineffectiveness of using force for settling conflicts.
The political analyst finds this guarantee especially important, especially taking into account statements coming from Baku when Georgian-Ossetian tension escalation reached its peak that in May 1994 the sides of Karabakh conflict signed a cease-fire agreement, not truce.
Zolyan said that now such statements are being voiced rarer.
He said the Karabakh process is now in mixed situation – two of OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs – representatives of Russia and the United States – supports independence of formerly unrecognized South Ossetia and Kosovo.
“Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, speaking about principles of territorial integrity and national self-determination right in case of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, prefers the second. Hence, Russia should remain stuck to its stance also in considering Karabakh problem”, Zolyan said.
He also said that Georgian-Ossetian conflict had considerable impact on Karabakh process – Karabakh will be considered as an independent entity building relations with Armenia and Azerbaijan at own discretion.
“Time has come for signing an agreement between Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh Republic on comprehensive cooperation”, he said.
The Karabakh conflict broke out in 1988 when Artsakh, mainly populated by Armenians, declared its independence from Azerbaijan.
On December 10, 1991, a few days after the collapse of the Soviet Union, a referendum took place in Nagorno-Karabakh, and the majority of the population (99.89%) voted for independence from Azerbaijan.
Afterwards, large-scale military operations began, as a result of which Azerbaijan lost control over Nagorno-Karabakh and the seven regions adjacent to it.
On May 12, 1994 after the signing of the Bishkek cease-fire agreement, the military operations were stopped.
Since 1992, negotiations over the peaceful settlement of the conflict have been carried out within the OSCE Minsk Group, co-chaired by the USA, Russia and France.
The recent presidential election in Karabakh took place on July 19, 2007. According to preliminary summary data of the NKR Central Electoral Committee, 59,316 people out of 92,128 (64% of electorate) voted for Bako Sahakian.–0—
