CRISIS GROUP: GARABAGH CONFLICT NOT “FROZEN”

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
March 30 2006

Baku, March 29, AssA-Irada
The Armenia-Azerbaijan Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict is not
“frozen” and frequent reports of human casualties prove this, said
a representative of the International Crisis Group, an organization
working to prevent conflicts worldwide.

“After the failed talks at Rambouillet, 19 people, including eight
civilians, died last month alone as a result of ceasefire violations,”
the ICG project director on South Caucasus Sabine Frasier told a news
conference in Washington.

The parties failed to agree upon the issues of principle during the
negotiations held by Presidents Ilham Aliyev and Robert Kocharian in
France in February, which was followed by mutual threats.

Frasier said the resumption of hostilities is not inevitable but could
be prompted by the escalating tensions on the frontline. She said the
conflict zone is particularly sensitive due to its specific geographic
location and that new military actions could potentially get Russia,
Iran, Georgia and Turkey involved in the confrontation.

The ICG representative added that the cities occupied by Armenians
in Upper Garabagh have been devastated and should be rehabilitated.