AZERBAIJANI POLITICAL SCIENTISTS ASSESS UN DISCUSSIONS ON NAGORNO-KARABAKH AS CONTINUATION OF DIPLOMATIC PRESSURE ON ARMENIA

Trend
July 29 2009
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijani political scientists consider the discussion of two
issues on the Nagorno-Karabakh at the 64th UN General Assembly as a
continuation of the diplomatic pressure on Armenia.

"Discussions will be useful as a means of exerting pressure on
Armenia. After the recent discussions at the UN on the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict, Armenia’s mood is not the same. It felt isolated," Political
Scientist, Rasim Musabayov told Trend News on July 29.

The political scientist believes continuation of the diplomatic
pressure on Armenia is too important for Azerbaijan. "Although the UN
resolutions will not make Armenia liberate the occupied territories,
it should ways feel such a pressure," Musabayov said.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan
lost all of Nagorno-Karabakh except for Shusha and Khojali in December
1991. In 1992-93, Armenian armed forces occupied Shusha, Khojali and 7
districts surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh. Azerbaijan and Armenia signed
a ceasefire in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia,
France, and the U.S. – are currently holding the peace negotiations.

The 64th UN General Assembly will debate two issues on the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, UN HQ in New York told Trend News.

Political Scientist Zardusht Alizadeh considers discussions on the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict at the UN General Assembly as a positive
phenomenon.

"But discussions are not enough to solve the problem. The discussions
must be accompanied by effective measures to establish the army,
peaceful diplomacy and effective information war. These measures
should be implemented in its entirety. The most important of these is
to continue to build a democratic society in Azerbaijan, capable to
solve problems of all citizens," Alizadeh told Trend News on July 29.

He said the steps taken towards the restoration of Azerbaijan’s
territorial integrity of Azerbaijan yield positive fruits. "If the
problem cannot be solved by means of pressure, at least it is not
forgotten by acquiring new topicality in the society. Aggressor-Armenia
always feels Azerbaijan’s activity on the diplomatic front," said
Alizadeh.

Regarding non-fulfillment of four UN resolutions on the conflict,
the political scientist said the power is necessary to implement the
provisions of those resolutions. "Without force, these resolutions
are only political in nature. Their implementation is not obligatory,"
Alizadeh said.

Political Scientist, Vafa Guluzadeh does not expect progress after
the UN discussions on the Nagorno-Karabakh to resolve the issue. "The
UN four resolutions on this issue remain on paper. Even after the
discussions, UN takes any decision, none of steps will be taken to
implement it," Guluzadeh told Trend News on July 29.

He believes Armenia is a Russian "province" and does not exist as
the state. "As the UN fears Russia, it does not pass decisions on
this country. Therefore, we should wait," the political analyst said.