DIMITRY SIMES: THE ONLY SOLUTION OF GARABAGH MATTER IS TO RECOVER OCCUPIED TERRITORY OF AZERBAIJAN
Azerbaijan Business Center
June 30 2008
Azerbaijan
The idea of settlement of Garabagh problem on a method
of Serbo-Croatian conflict settlement (liquidation of separatist
formation on its territory by Croatia) is sounded at the level of
political experts close to the US Administration.
Touching the theme of conflicts on the CIS area, Dimitry Simes, the
Nixon Center’s president, stated that as for the Nagorno Garabagh
Republic, Nagorno Garabagh is not simply unrecognized territory.
"Today it is integral part of Armenia, and if Azerbaijan does not
recover it, I don’t see a mechanism with help of which this territory
could be returned," Mr. Simes said.
Azerbaijan, 20% of territory of which is occupied by Armenia is seeking
a way for peaceful settlement of the conflict within the framework of
the OSCE Minsk Group and in parallel has brought its military budget
up to $2 bn. Since 1994 the conflict has been frozen due to a truce
agreement signed in Bishkek.