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Armenia Interested in Status-Quo in Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict Settlement : American Politician (video)

Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict Materials 23 May 2007 17:06 (UTC +04:00)

Azerbaijan, Baku / corr. Trend A.Gasimova / The Director of the Research Institute for Central Asia and Caucasus of Jon Hopkins University, Svante Cornell, considers that Armenia is interested in the status quo situation, which has been ongoing for more than 10 years with regards to the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

The conflict between the two countries of South Caucasus appeared in 1988 due to territorial claims of Armenia against Azerbaijan. Armenia has occupied 20% of the Azerbaijani lands including Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven Districts of the country surrounding it. Since 1992 to the present time, these territories have been under the occupation of the Armenian Forces. In 1994, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a cease-fire agreement at which time the active hostilities ended. The Co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group ( Russia, France and USA) continue to hold peaceful negotiations.

Cornell said in his interview with journalists on 23 May in Baku that although the status quo is totally in the hands of the present Government of Armenia, this is undesirable for Azerbaijan and such a situation should be stopped. "Presently the Armenian propaganda is not as strong as 10 years ago. Almost all countries around the world know that the Azerbaijani land has been occupied and they know who the aggressor is. The aggressor here is Armenia," the expert stressed.

Cornell said that Russia and Armenia closely co-operate in economic and military spheres. "The Government of Russia wants to demonstrate that it supports both Azerbaijan and Armenia (for instance, in the peaceful settlement of the conflict). However, it needs to look at the facts and the fact is that the Russian Armed Forces have been placed in Armenia and therefore, Russia is causing harm to relations with Azerbaijan by supporting Armenia," the American politician said, adding that Azerbaijan needs to expand and strengthen its relations with the western countries.

Cornell highlighted the importance of the continuing economic growth in Azerbaijan and the great importance of the issue that the oil revenues should be equally distributed in the society and assists in the political development of the country. "With regards to the development of democracy in Azerbaijan, it is impossible to gain this in a day. The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is an obstacle in the development of democracy in Azerbaijan because it creates instability in the Country," Cornell concluded.

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