Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 20
By Anakhanum Khidayatova - Trend:
Resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict primarily depends on Azerbaijan and Armenia, Bayram Balci, an analyst at the Center for International Studies and Research CERI, Sciences Po, France, said.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.
Balci said that the will of the participating countries of the conflict is more important than the support of neighbors in the region.
"Countries of the region may have their own interests in solution or irresolution of the conflict, so it's not always right to involve them in the process," according to Balci.
He added that Russia can play a key role in resolving the conflict.
Regarding the OSCE Minsk Group format, the expert said that participation of Turkey and Iran in the process would become more efficient and more important than that of the US and France.
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