Azerbaijan, Baku /corr. Trend A.Gasimova / The Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Federation Council of Russia, Mikhail Margelov, considers it to be impossible to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict without the participation of Russia and Armenia.
"It is impossible to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict without the involvement of Armenia and Russia in the talks. In addition, it is impossible to resolve the problem of Pridnestrov and South Osetia without the participation of the mediators in person of Russia and UNO," he stressed.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries appeared in 1988 due to Armenian territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenia has occupied 20% of the Azerbaijani lands including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and its seven surrounding districts. Since 1992 to the present time, these territories have been under Armenian occupation. 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) are holding peaceful negotiations.
The issue of 'frozen conflicts' within the former Soviet countries was discussed on the 19th of June in Baku at the summit of "Organization for Democracy and Economic Development - GUAM".
Margelov stated on the 20th of June via telephone from Moscow that it will be unsuccessful to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict only within GUAM and if such efforts are made the situation may become more complicated and result in open opposition.
Regarding the attitude of Moscow towards the realization of transport and oil projects within GUAM, Margelov stressed that it presents no sickliness towards Russia because a large part of the projects are forwarded towards the oil and gas of Azerbaijan and these resources go outside Russia.
According to him, the Middle Asian countries have already supported the idea to construct a Caspian pipeline. Therefore, the oil and gas projects of GUAM present no threats for Azerbaijan. "I do not know if Azerbaijan will have enough oil and gas to fill up all these ambitious and expensive pipelines, yet it would be a joyful possibility, and I don't doubt it impossible." Margelov said.