British journalist Thomas de Waal: “Armenians and Azeris doomed to be neighbors”

Today, Azerbaijan
March 17 2006

17 March 2006 [16:12] – Today.Az

“Permanent political instability in Azerbaijan was an important factor
in the Karabakh war,” said author of “Black Garden” book dedicated
to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict Thomas de Waal.

In his words, during the critical battles for Shusha and Lachin
the Azeri troops left for Baku to meddle in the internal political
disorders. “The greatest territorial surrenders were Aghdam and Fizuli
and they occurred in 1994,” de Waal noted.

At the same time he noted that anyone knows that the geographical map
cannot be changed. “Armenians and Azeris will always have to live
as neighbors and it’s painful to see that the two societies abide
by the slogan “Karabakh is ours and it’s inseparable”. Neither of
the parties is ready for compromise that is why it’s hard to achieve
complete peace,” the journalist said.

Thomas de Waal says the leadership of Armenia and Azerbaijan is
responsible for it. “The peaceful plan is generally outlined.

Karabakh will de-facto maintain the present status with the corridor
to Armenia; Azerbaijan will receive its lands back and refugees will
be allowed to return… However the settlement process cannot be
started without dialogue and mutual trust,” he underscored.

“I think Armenia doesn’t fully understand the pain that Azeris suffer
over the loss of the territories. I am not speaking about Karabakh. I
am speaking about the big territories and towns which are completely
ruined and empty now – Aghdam, Fizuli, Jabrail, Kubatly… But it’s
known that any peaceful agreement will provide for the return of these
territories. Armenians should openly speak of it to make Azerbaijani
radicals think what they want to fight for. As a matter of fact, 90%
of the issues are settled and the negotiation process stumbles over
the Karabakh status only,” he said.

/PanARMENIAN.Net/

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