BRITISH EXPERT QUESTIONS AZERBAIJAN’S WISDOM TO SEEK OSCE MINSK GROUP DISSOLUTION

ARMENPRESS
March 27, 2008

YEREVAN, MARCH 27, ARMENPRESS: The executive director of the London
Information Network on Conflicts, Denis Samouth, questioned the wisdom
of Azerbaijan’s efforts to seek dissolution of the OSCE Minsk Group
that has been trying for over a decade to help Armenia and Azerbaijan
hammer out a compromise peace deal over Nagorno-Karabakh.

Last week Armenian foreign minister Vartan Oskanian told parliament
members that Azerbaijan started, through the OSCE Secretariat,
a process of the Minsk Group’s dissolution.

Speaking to Armenpress Denis Samouth said there are many other ways to
reinvigorate the process of the conflict settlement. According to him,
Azerbaijan has always been critical of the OSCE Minsk Group activity.

He said if Azerbaijan and Armenia are truly committed to finding
a peaceful solution to the conflict they should agree on the best
format to achieve it.

"The change of the talks’ format will not result in a
breakthrough. What is important is that the sides negotiate by
demonstrating true faith and confidence," he said.

According to Denis Samouth, the South Caucasian region has a huge
potential that was strangled by the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and
leaders of the region should bear this in mind.

"That will not be extravagancy, it is the duty of regional
leaders. Wars will not solve any of the region’s problems and a
military solution to Nagorno-Karabakh is unacceptable," he said.

"Security is very important for Armenia, but in the 21-st century
security is not only tanks and war planes, it is also good relations
with neighbors,’ he said, adding that the European Union could help
Armenia to revise its relationships with Turkey and Azerbaijan.

"Unlike many others I believe that there is a solution to the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. For two years the Minsk Group, co-chaired
by France, Russia and the United States, has been saying the solution
is very close, the EU should pay greater attention to this issue than
before and tell the sides to make the final steps," he said.