Karabakh conflict impedes Armenia’s and Azerbaijan’s ties with west
18.11.2013,
14:53
Unsettled Karabakh conflict impedes Armenia’s and Azerbaijan’s ties with the West, expert of Armenian Center for political and international studies Ruben Mehrabyan said.
YEREVAN, November 18. /ARKA/. Unsettled Karabakh conflict impedes Armenia’s and Azerbaijan’s ties with the West, expert of Armenian Center for political and international studies Ruben Mehrabyan said.
On the other hand, according to the expert, the conflict is increasing the Russian influence in the region, Mehrabyan said at the public debates on dynamics and prospects of Karabakh conflict.
According to the expert, there is consensus in the OSCE Minsk Group (Russia, USA and France) on one thing only – resuming military operations is unacceptable.
Addressing Armenia’s problems in European integration Mehrabyan said the West should have treated Armenia the same way as the Eastern Europe at the time – the countries received security guarantees through accession to NATO, then joined the EU.
“Why you are making an exception for post-Soviet countries? Why you are putting the cart before the horse, then trying to suggest to people the structure may not just move, but even run?” Mehrabyan said.
The expert also said he does not understand the West’s position on Turkey’s blockade of Armenia, as Turkey is the only NATO member country neighboring with Armenia.
The public debates on Karabakh conflict, its dynamics and prospects, were held by the Caucasus Institute in cooperation with the South Caucasus office of Heinrich Böll Foundation. –0--
