NAGORNO-KARABAKH’S RETURN TO AZERBAIJAN WOULD LEAD TO WAR – ARMENIAN ANALYST

Interfax
July 21 2009
Russia

The conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh cannot be settled as long as the
government of self-proclaimed Nagorno- Karabakh remains outside the
talks, said Richard Kirakosian, director of the Armenian Strategic
and National Research Center.

"The Karabakh conflict cannot be settled in conditions of any kind of
pressure and as along as the government of Nagorno-Karabakh remains
outside the talks," Kirakosian said at a news conference on Monday.

"I am convinced, that any option leading to Karabakh’s return to
Azerbaijan will unfailingly lead to a war, and this is clear to the co-
chairmen of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s
Minsk Group," the analyst said.

Regarding the settlement of relations between Armenia and Turkey,
Kirakosian said, "Turkey has not yet made up its mind and does not
know what it wants. Armenia is ready."

"Turkey has underestimated Azerbaijan’s reaction and overestimated
its capabilities. The Turkish government is playing roles," he said.

But Kirakosian remarked that strong hopes are being pinned on the
settlement of Turkish-Armenian relations. A Bad finale in the Turkish
theater will not please Russia and the United States, he said.

Armenian Foreign Minister Edvard Nalbandian said on Monday that the
chance of settling Armenian-Turkish relations has not yet been lost.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress