MANVEL SARGSYAN: RECONGNITION OF ABKHAZIA, SOUTH OSSETIA, KOSOVO ALTERED SITUATION

Information-Analytic Agency NEWS.am
Aug 26 2009
Armenia

14:30 / 08/26/2009What was the influence Russia’s recognition of
South Ossetia and Abkhazia exerted on the Nagorno-Karabakh peace
process? Answering the question, Manvel Sargsyan, expert for the
Armenian Center for National and International Studies, said: "It
is difficult to speak of an immediate influence, but the fact that
the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs have been actively trying to find
a solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh problem for a year, of course,
has to do with it. The situation has changed and we can witness a
stronger interest in the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process."

On the other hand, the situation has changed on the whole. "The
recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia by Russia and of Kosovo by
the West has altered the course of discussions of the Nagorno-Karabakh
problem. More has been talked about the recognition of Nagorno-Karabakh
this year, and the issue has actively been discussed. For example,
speaking of Kosovo, U.S. President Barack Obama stated that people
struggled for independence, which, he said, was indicative of a new
situation. Of course, there also exist new, Russia-related, threats. It
is clear that, last year, Russia was doing its best to extend its
achievements in Georgia to the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process. That
was dangerous, as, if any individual country tries to find solutions,
others start making steps. For example, Turkey’s activity has added
to disagreements between superpowers," Sargsyan said.

As to what was Nagorno-Karabakh’s benefit from temporarily refraining
from participating in the Russia-initiated meetings of the leaders of
unrecognized states, the expert said the meetings would hardly exert
any essential influence on the development of Nagorno-Karabakh peace
process. "I do not think it was Nagorno-Karabakh participating in the
meetings or not that accounted for Russia’s position. Russia’s attitude
to the problems of Abkhazia and South Ossetia is entirely different
from that to the Nagorno-Karabakh problem – these are basically
different directions. In the context of international relations, the
Nagorno-Karabakh problem is much more serious. Of course, Russia might
as well recognize Nagorno-Karabakh, but it would not have anything
in common with other tasks. It has to do with Russia’s interests in
this issue," Sargsyan said.