Azerbaijan, Baku, July 24 / Trend M. Aliyev /
The talks between Azerbaijan and Armenia without mediators may play a crucial role in resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, said at a press conference, director of the Centre of Political Innovations and Technologies Mubariz Ahmedoglu said at a press-conference today.
"Mediators and other leading international players delay the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement by their influence on Armenia," he said.
Armenia loses itself as a result of the unresolved conflict, he said.
"The country is up to its eyes in debt," he said. "People leave the country. No one gives out loans to Armenia. In this situation, all negotiations between Azerbaijan and Armenia may be held in Nagorno-Karabakh. These negotiations may involve not only officials but also businessmen. They may discuss future of the region, prepare joint investment projects and first of all implement them in Nagorno-Karabakh."
The Armenian and Azerbaijani communities of Nagorno-Karabakh must closely cooperate in all these processes, he added.
"It is necessary to start direct negotiations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, in the interests of both parties, and especially Armenia itself," he said. "It must withdraw occupation forces from the Azerbaijani territory. First, Lachin and Kalbajar regions must be returned. From a geographical point of view, both regions are contiguous with Armenia. According to our information, the total number of Armenian servicemen is not more than 700 people there."
In autumn 2008, after several months of his presidency, President Sargsyan said in an interview about the possibility of making investments in Nagorno-Karabakh. Then the mediators dissuaded Sargsyan, he 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 per cent 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 U.S. - are currently holding 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.