Azerbaijan, Baku, Nov.4 / Trend M.Aliyev /
No progress is expected on the resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict in the subsequent two years, International Crisis Group official Sabina Fraser told journalists on Friday.
"Because elections will be held in OSCE Minsk Group co-chair countries - U.S., Russia and France. And later elections will be held in Azerbaijan and Armenia," Fraser said.
She said as practice shows the negotiations slow down on the eve of elections.
"The world community, including the co-chairs pinned great hopes on the Kazan meeting. Unfortunately, the meeting yielded no result," Fraser added.
At the same time she believes that even if high-level meetings are not hold, then contact through civil societies of both countries are necessary.
Fraser said it will be hard for Turkey to make any contribution to the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh problem.
Turkey plays an important role in the South Caucasus region, Fraser said, stressing that if Ankara wants to contribute to the resolution of the Karabakh conflict, then it needs to normalize relations with Armenia.
"Turkey has very interesting and efficient proposals. Now opening of this country's borders with Armenia is on the agenda," Fraser 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.