Azerbaijan, Baku, Oct.13 / Trend E. Tariverdiyeva /
The Armenian authorities are mostly guilty of lack of progress in negotiations on the Nagorno-Karabakh problem, because now the country is headed by people who instigated the conflict, i.e. former residents of Nagorno-Karabakh, Head of the Caucasian Centre under the Russian State Humanitarian University, Ismail Agakishiyev believes.
"Today, priorities of the Armenian authorities' coincide with the Armenian Diaspora's priorities," Agakishiyev said today at a meeting with journalists in Trend Agency.
He said the change in state power in Armenia can positively affect the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. However, one cannot be fully confident in it.
"Today Azerbaijan is a rich country, while there is a split in the ruling circles of Armenia, some of which are ready to make compromises to improve the country's economic," he said.
In addition, Turkey's active participation in resolving the conflict plays a positive role, as this country has always supported Azerbaijan, Agakishiyev added.
"Much depends also on Russia's position on this issue. Russia and Azerbaijan have very good relations, which in future will be even more strengthened. Moreover, I think, Turkey-Russia tandem can play a positive role in resolving the conflict," Agakishiyev said.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts.
Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France, and the U.S. - are currently holding the peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.