Journal of Turkish Weekly
Aug 1 2009

Azerbaijan Should Adhere To Principled Strategic Line In
Nagorno-karabakh Talks: Expert Of Carleton University

Saturday, 1 August 2009

The United States, Washington, Aug. 1 /Trend News, N.Bogdanova/

Azerbaijan should adhere to the principled strategic line to
peacefully resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, leading Expert on
Eurasian countries, Doctor Robert Cutler believes.

"In the peace process on Nagorno-Karabakh conflict Azerbaijan should
continue the principled strategic line that it has followed up until
this time," Senior Research Fellow in the Institute of European,
Russian and Eurasian Studies, Carleton University of Canada, Doctor
Cutler said in his interview with Trend News.

Continuing a previous line, Azerbaijan should make tactical
compromises in its interest in particular negotiating situations as
they arise, he added.

Official Baku insists on settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
on the base of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity.

Commenting on the OSCE Minsk Group statements about the withdrawal of
the snipers from the frontline of the conflict, expert said that, it
would be effective only if Armenian side stops the regular shooting on
Azerbaijan’s territory.

"If armed militia from occupied territories have indeed stopped
sniping at Azerbaijani soldiers with rifles, then it would be good for
Azerbaijan also to stop sniping at occupying forces," he said.

Although a ceasefire regime exists between Azerbaijan and Armenia
since 1994, both sides periodically fires on the front line.

Reminding that there is a possibility that Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
will be discussed at the UN GA’s 64th session, Dr. Robert M.Cutler
nonetheless says that "The UN has not lately been able to make a
constructive contribution to the solution of frozen conflicts in the
Caucasus. This is not necessarily the UN’s fault but just a fact of
life".

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding
districts. Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in
1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the
U.S. – are currently holding the peace negotiations.

Saturday, 1 August 2009
Trend News Agency

zerbaijan-should-adhere-to-principled-strategic-li ne-in-nagorno-karabakh-talks-expert-of-carleton-un iversity.html