Azerbaijan, Baku, Oct. 28 / Trend E. Tariverdiyeva /
Alexei Vlasov, a well-known Russian political analyst, does not exclude the possibility of signing a document on Nagorno-Karabakh settlement at the upcoming OSCE summit in Astana in December.
"I think that there will be no breakthrough at the summit in Astana. But a document - a protocol of intentions will be signed," Vlasov told Trend in Baku on Thursday.
Alexei Vlasov, editor-in-chief of analytical information portal Vestnik Kavkaza (Bulletin of the Caucasus), attends a round-table meeting on the "Role of Parliament in the development of civil society", organized by the Institute for Eurasian Studies.
The OSCE summit will be held in late December and will bring together the presidents and heads of governments of 56 member-states and 12 OSCE partner-countries, as well as heads of 68 international organizations. The most important issues of regional security, including the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, will be discussed at the summit.
Vlasov said that the Madrid principles will form the basis for further negotiations in its adapted variant or classical version.
Vlasov regarded the progress made in the yesterday's [Oct. 27] meeting between the presidents of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia as an important step forward. "Though from the geopolitical point of view, this might not be the greatest action, but it is very important for public opinion in both Azerbaijan and Armenia," Vlasov said.
The fact that the prisoners of war will be returned and the bodies of killed military will be exchanged is not a breakthrough, but a step towards a dialogue, he added.
Astrakhan hosted the trilateral meeting of the presidents of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Russia on Oct. 27. The parties signed a declaration, which envisages the return of prisoners of war and takes a humanitarian nature.
He said that it is important for Russia to support dynamics of a dialogue at the present stage of negotiations.
Reaching agreements, like yesterday's ones, is the maximum that can be achieved at present in the negotiations on Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Vlasov said. "There will be a humanitarian component in negotiations. The dialogue will be continued. However, a solution to the conflict will not be found yet," he said.
Vlasov said all experts must be more optimistic, because 2011 can be considered a decisive year in resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
"For example, we do not see any advance in South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Thus, the Astrakhan meeting can be considered a positive step on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict," Vlasov said.