KARABAKH CONFLICT ESCALATION TO JEOPARDIZE AZERBAIJAN EXISTENCE

PanARMENIAN.Net
06.11.2008 14:36 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Azerbaijan has been extremely intractable in
the process of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement so far
and even demanded return of NKR under its jurisdiction, what was
absolutely inadmissible for the Armenian side, said Arayik Stepanyan,
a corresponding member at the Russian Academy of Geopolitical Studies.

Georgia’s fruitless attempt to use force in South Ossetia restrained
Azerbaijan’s ardor, according to him.

"The Georgian aggression proved that resumption of hostilities in
Nagorno Karabakh is impossible and the sides took the diplomatic
truck. Under the circumstances, Russia took the initiative the U.S. had
to agree to. Thanks to Russia, the Karabakh process entered a balanced
and diplomatic stage," Dr. Stepanyan said.

"Now, Azerbaijan and Armenia will have to reach a compromise, essential
to stabilize the Caucasus, where the interests of the U.S., Russia,
Europe and Arab states interlace. To prevent further escalation,
Armenia and Azerbaijan signed a declaration envisaging a peaceful
resolution of the conflict. Azerbaijan knows that resumption of war can
question its existence as a state," he said, Russkaya Liniya reports.