POLITICAL SCIENTIST VAHAN DILANIAN: NO PROGRESS WAS RECORDED AT PRAGUE MEETING

Noyan Tapan
May 14, 2009

YEREVAN, MAY 14, NOYAN TAPAN. RA and Azeri Presidents’ meeting held
lately in Prague recorded no progress in the issue of Nagorno Karabakh
settlement.

Vahan Dilanian, the Chairman of the Research Center for Political
Developments, expressed such an opinion at the May 14 press conference.

Touching upon the optimistic statements of OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs
made after Prague meeting, the political scientist said that they are
far from reality. As to American Co-chair Matthew Bryza’s statements,
according to V. Dilanian, they are completely invented. And Bryza’s
statement on returning territories caused such discontent in Armenia
as Turkish Sabah newspaper’s publication on the road-map.

While, in V. Dilanian’s conviction, no issue of territories was
discussed at the last meeting of RA and Azeri Presidents. He also
considers unrealistic M. Bryza’s statement that the two Presidents’
meeting planned in Saint Petersburg can bring a breakthrough.

In V. Dilanian’s opinion, a hardening of Armenia’s positions was
recorded at the last Armenian-Azeri meeting. Foreign Minister of
France Bernard Kouchner also mentioned it. According to the latter,
Armenia’s conduct was too destructive. Besides, the fact that the
Armenian-Azeri relations are not connected with normalization of the
Armenian-Turkish relations was reaffirmed.

According to V. Dilanian, normalization of relations with Turkey will
have rather an economic significance. In particular, restoration
of Gyumri-Kars railway, according to him, is a regional project,
in which Azerbaijan can also participate in the future.