TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Feb 21 2008

Political Scientists Believe Kosovo Will Not Cause Changes in
Solution to Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict
21.02.08 14:13

Azerbaijan, Baku, 21 February / corr. Trend News S. Ilhamgizi/ The
Public Council on the regulation of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is
concerned about the fact that Kosovo will affect the Nagorno-Karabakh
problem. According to Trend, this comment was made during the meeting
of the Public Council.

Rasim Musabayov, a member of the council and political scientist,
said that though the independence of Kosovo will have some impact on
talks regarding Karabakh, it will not cause any changes in the
solution to the conflict. `During the next five years Serbia will
admit the independence of Kosovo within the framework of the European
Union. However, the Nagorno-Karabakh problem did not find its
solution even without Kosovo. The difference is that Kosovo can be
seen on the world map, but Nagorno-Karabakh does not. Everything
depends on the regional balance in this issue,’ Musabayov said.

According to the political scientist, there is not so much deference
in the positions of US and Russia regarding Kosovo. He said that the
US, by over-stressing ethnic problems, tries to put pressure on its
allies, but Russia does not want the conflict to be solved and wants
everything to remain as it was and the conflict to be protracted. The
European Union tries to solve all problems. `It is wrong to forget
that the Azerbaijani land was occupied on a sheet of paper, not on
some principles, but by the Russian arms. Therefore it is not right
to oppose the Russian position, this is not in Azerbaijan’s favour,’
Musabayov said.

Political scientist Zardusht Alizade said that Armenia will take
advantage of the Kosovo problem. `We have a legal basis and the world
is familiar with Azerbaijan through its Karabakh problem. NATO killed
the Serbs and now says that it has killed the Albanians and states
that it is impossible to live together. The key goal of US is to
prevent its allies from developing. America does not have permanent
friends, but permanent interests. Albanians are like Armenians in
Karabakh. Therefore it is important to carry out propaganda, then
Karabakh can be recovered from theoretical point if view. However, if
we follow the plan developed by America we will lose,’ Alizade said.

At the meeting it was decided to send a statement on behalf of the
Karabakh Council to international organizations to express
Azerbaijan’s concern of the threat to the territorial integrity of
Azerbaijan.

The conflict between the two countries of the South Caucasus began in
1988 due to Armenian territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Since
1992, Armenian Armed Forces have occupied 20% of Azerbaijan including
the Nagorno-Karabakh region and its seven surrounding districts. In
1994, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement at which
time the active hostilities ended. The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk
Group ( Russia, France, and the US) are currently holding peaceful
negotiations.