NAGORNO KARABAKH IS A CONFLICT PARTY

Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
07 July 05

In the June 29 issue of the Russian newspaper Novoye Vremya the former
co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Vladimir Kazimirov pointed out the
maintenance of the ceasefire and deterrence of military actions in the
present stage of regulation of the Karabakh conflict. Shall we expect
serious changes in the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh issue? asks
the Russian diplomat, commending Bakus proposal of direct
relationships with Nagorno Karabakh, says the newspaper. However,
according to Kazimirov, the dialogue between the two communities
proposed by Azerbaijan means avoiding direct talks. Nagorno Karabakh
is a conflict party, which is reflected in all the international
documents, arrangements of 1993-1994, mentions the former Minsk Group
co-chair, adding that neither the routes nor the oil pipeline
guarantee that military actions will not be resumed. What is the
possibility that military actions will be resumed, if we consider that
recently the Azerbaijani president has been making militaristic
statements quite often? Analysing the situation in the article Ilhams
Threats, Hayots Ashkhar Daily Newspaper (June 30) supposes that Alievs
militaristic statements are simply to ease the home political tensions
on the eve of the election in Azerbaijan and distracting the attention
of the society to a external factor; in this case the Karabakh
conflict. The newspaper predicts that before the elections the
Azerbaijani authorities will by all means set forward the idea of
existence of an external threat to corner the opposition which is
becoming increasingly strong. Aliev realizes that simply there is no
other way of overcoming the home political complications in the
upcoming autumn. It is necessary to set forward something new to throw
a monkey wrench in the works of the opposition. According to the
author of the article, this was the reason for the groundless
statements about the glorious victory in the competition of weaponry
with Armenia and consequently the Azerbaijani armys being the
strongest in the South Caucasus. Finally, writes the analyst of Hayots
Ashkhar, in order to control the home political life, hold the power
and distract public attention to external pressure in the upcoming
autumn the election slogan about the military and political dominance
of Azerbaijan may turn into a target, and a war slogan.

CHRISTINE MNATSAKANIAN.
07-07-2005