Azerbaijan, Baku, Dec. 9 / Trend E. Tariverdiyeva /
LINKS today published the first part of its report "Karabakh: the big debate", Dennis Sammut, executive director of the British NGO LINKS, told Trend.
"This first part reflects the views of Armenian political parties contained in interviews with leaders of 23 political parties. A second part of the report, with views of the Azerbaijani political parties will be released later this month," Sammut wrote by e-mail.
In the future we also hope to publish the views of Armenian politicians in Karabakh and Azerbaijani politicians from Karabakh displaced by the conflict, he said.
"This work is part of our effort to increase the discussion on the Karabakh conflict and its settlement within and between Armenians and Azerbaijanis. This discussion will help the peace negotiations between the two countries," he said.
Many Armenian politicians felt that the EU should do more to resolve the conflict. The European Union currently supports a number of civil society activities on this issue, he said.
"Since both Armenia and Azerbaijan are now partners of the European in the Eastern Partnership, and both also want to deepen their relationship with the EU, there is in my view an opportunity for a more active engagement, as long as both sides want this. I do not think the EU is interested in imposing itself on the sides, but if asked by both sides it will I am sure not fail to respond," he said.
An interesting factor which emerges from the study is that many of the current leaders of Armenian political parties actually fought in the 1989-1994 conflict. This makes the issue a very personal matter for these leaders, who also feel that they have a stake in its outcome.
"There is broad consensus amongst Armenian politicians that any settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict needs first and foremost take into account the views and the welfare of the Armenian population of the territory. Most parties say that this can only be achieved through independence for Nagorno-Karabakh. Some call for immediate recognition of the self-declared Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. However, there is little consideration given to the place, if any, of the Azerbaijani population of Nagorno-Karabakh displaced by the conflict," a message 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 seven surrounding districts.
Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France, and the United States - are currently holding the peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four resolutions on the liberation of Nagorno Karabakh and the surrounding regions.