ANDREY ARESHEV: YEREVAN SHOULD BE MORE PERSISTENT IN KARABAKH ISSUE

PanARMENIAN.Net
22.12.2008 15:47 GMT+04:00

The consequences of the USSR decline will be felt for a long time,
a Russian expert said.

"The August was in South Ossetia and Russia’s recognition of two
Georgian breakaway republics proved that Georgia launched a losing
battle," Andrey Areshev, member of strategic culture foundation,
wrote in his "Karabakh conflict: returning to the truth" article
obtained by PanARMENIAN.Net.

"Unlike Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Transnistria and Nagorno Karabakh
were not recognized. At that the situation with Karabakh resembles
a diplomatic fuss: frequent visits, statements contradicting one
another, vows to observe Madrid principles. Political scientists
and journalists discuss who will cede Karabakh to Azerbaijan: either
Russia in exchange for gas in Shah Deniz field or the United States
in exchange for Baku’s joining NATO and the Afghan transit. At that,
one and the most important fact remains neglected: the people of
Nagorno Karabakh who paid such a high price for their independence
will never renounce it," the article says.

"Militarization of the region is going on. The UN and other
international organizations demonstrate impotence to alleviate
tensions. The mediators neglect military, geopolitical, psychological
and geographical aspects of the Karabakh conflict. Pseudo-calls to
face the future smack of demagogy; the unity of the OSCE Minsk Group
Co-chairs is exaggerated. Under the circumstances, Yerevan should be
more persistent in the issue. Neglect of reality is not a productive
approach after the August events in South Ossetia," it says.