No danger over Garabagh mediators’ proposals – analyst

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
July 7 2006

Baku, July 6, AssA-Irada — The "framework agreement" on settling
the Armenia-Azerbaijan Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict disclosed
recently by the mediating OSCE Minsk Group (MG) includes quite a few
provisions in favor of Azerbaijan, a political analyst has said.

The document, made public by the US co-chair Matthew Bryza, neither
mentions Azerbaijan’s city of Shusha [an ancient town occupied
by Armenia during the hostilities] nor deals with the issue of
"independence" of Upper Garabagh, head of the Center for Political
Innovation and Technology, Mubariz Ahmadoghlu, told journalists.

"The report doesn’t suggest anything specific with regard to a
referendum on the status of Garabagh. Why do we dwell upon the
dark side of it? There is no danger related to a referendum that
many expect."

The expert said that whereas liberation of three or five Azerbaijani
districts from occupation was on the negotiating table earlier,
the liberation of 7 districts is now on the agenda.

"The document is not tragic for Azerbaijan. But it can’t be considered
as one that will please the country either," Ahmadoghlu said.

The analyst also said there are divergent opinions in Armenia on the
disclosed report. It will take at least 20 years to hold a referendum
and Azerbaijan "can do much work in the meantime", he said.

"The conflicting sides are waging a war of nerves. The side that is
strong in this respect will get the upper hand," the expert said. He
added that any document that is put on public discussion would not
be fully accepted by either side.*