PanARMENIAN.Net

Azerbaijan Should Not Set Hope on Turkey in Karabakh Issue

30.06.2006 17:47 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The statement by the OSCE Minsk Group proves that
the preceding statement by U.S. Co-chair Matthew Bryza was not
accidental, ARF Bureau’s Hay Dat and Political Office Director Kiro
Manoian stated in an interview with PanARMENIAN.Net. In his words
this statement gave an impulse to the public discussion of the
problem, especially in Azerbaijan. `However, there is no confidence
that these discussions may convey an impulse to new talks,’ Manoian
said.

As for the pressure exerted upon the Presidents, he considers that
greater pressure is exerted on Ilham Aliyev than on Robert
Kocharian. `However, this pressure cannot be assessed as positive. In
this case, oil serves as restraining factor for Aliyev. Though he will
hardly sign any document, since he will lose power in this
case. Destabilization in Azerbaijan will do no good to the whole
region. I think during the G8 summit in Saint Petersburg Aliyev will
be asked a precise question and he will have to give a precise
answer,’ Manoian underscored.

At that he remarked that Azerbaijan should not set great hopes for
Turkey in the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh problem. `If Turkey
takes a neutral stand on the matter Azerbaijan will lose. Presently
the West should convince Turkey that its position on Armenia is not
fruitful and should be changed if Turkey really wishes to become a
regional power,’ Kiro Manoian said.