Azerbaijan, Baku, July 31 /Trend M.Aliyev
There is a kind of tradition to hold the so-called "elections" at the unrecognized separatist formations that appeared in the territories of CIS countries as a result of armed conflicts, and to invite representatives of other separatist regimes and subsequent congratulations from their leaders who are elected by the people of supposedly "independent republic", director of the Center of Political innovations and Technologies Mubariz Ahmedoglu said. It was so until recently.
However, after the "elections" held in the separatist Nagorno-Karabakh, these "traditions" were suddenly broken. Despite the fact that about two weeks has passed since that time, Bako Sahakyan, who was elected "president" of Nagorno-Karabakh wasn't congratulated by his colleagues in the separatist Abkhazia and South Ossetia. And the head of the Transnistrian congratulated Sahakyan only 9 days after the "presidential elections".
Ahmedoglu noted that it is a sensational, but not accidental case in the practice of these self-proclaimed entities.
"No one doubts that Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Transnistria are controlled by Russia. Leaders of these structures do not own the other powers except for the domestic issues and issues of local importance. And the influence of Russia is observed in the fact that "presidents" of Abkhazia and South Ossetia didn't greet Sahakyan.
"The same instructions were given by Russian Foreign Minister to the head of Transnistria," he said. "But its de facto leadership did not like the statement made by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Karasin that Transnistria will not be independent, but will become part of Moldova with a special status. As a sign of protest, Tiraspol violated Russia's instruction and congratulated B. Sahakyan."
He added that the facts testify to the fact that Moscow does not intend to recognize the separatist regime in Nagorno-Karabakh.
He stressedthat the local Armenians are rather dissatisfied in Nagorno-Karabakh. Therefore, Baku must focus on these issues.
"First of all, the Armenians could resort to any armed provocation," he said. "So, the Azerbaijani army must be in full combat readiness for this provocation not to have effect."
Moreover, the issue of Nagorno-Karabakh, which is an integral part of Azerbaijan, must not be a topic of the negotiations between Russia and Azerbaijan.
"Third, Yerevan must understand that if the Armenian rockets fall on unoccupied territory of Azerbaijan, this will be equivalent to the fact that Azerbaijan will raise the issue of returning Zangezur to Azerbaijan," he said. "If the operations go beyond the territories occupied by Armenians, the Azerbaijani army, sooner or later, will be in Zangezur."
He said that it is necessary to conduct certain work to prepare the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh to move under Azerbaijan's jurisdiction.
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.