AZERBAIJAN MAKES CONCESSION OVER NAGORNO-KARABAKH

Information-Analytic Agency NEWS.am
Sept 9 2009
Armenia

15:55 / 09/09/2009Elhan Polukhov, official representative of the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, continues actively preparing
the public for concessions over Nagorno-Karabakh. Since the neighboring
country’s public has been crammed with warlike propaganda for years,
Mr. Popukhov has much work to do.

Polukhov, who is obviously executing the orders received from
Azerbaijan’s autocrat Ilham Aliyev, has "picked" an intricate form
of revelations to prepare the Azerbaijani public for the developing
reality, which does not in any way fit in with the mechanically
continued militant rhetoric. And look! An Azerbaijani Foreign Office
representative "declassifies" a couple of other details of a framework
agreement on the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict being
prepared for signing.

In his interview with Turkey-based Today’s zaman daily, Polukhov
stated that Azerbaijan may consider the issue of reopening its border
with Armenia in case the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process registers a
breakthrough. Of importance, however, is not the readiness, but the
information on the possible terms of lifting Armenia’s long-lasting
blockade. According to Polukhov, it is possible even after the
first stage of the Nagorno-Karabakh pace process, which implies the
withdrawal of Armenian forces from only five of the regions forming
a security zone round Nagorno-Karabakh. In the context of the recent
reports on the possibility of the Nabucco gas pipeline running through
Armenia, it is clear that both the United States and the European Union
are truly interested in the early settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict as a legally binding international commitment.

The revelation about the possible lifting of Armenia’s blockade was
not at all the only one. The Azerbaijani official also reported the
dates of possible return of forcibly displaced persons: after the
second stage of withdrawal of Armenian troops and return of Kelbajar
and Lachin. Therefore, Baku cannot even dream of Azerbaijanis’ return
to Nagorno-Karabakh. Before that Azerbaijan will have to prove to the
international community it has rejected the militant rhetoric and is
consistent in honoring its commitments in exchange for the Armenian
side’s concessions.

Thus, both Azerbaijan and Armenia have, to a certain extent, launched a
process of preparing the public for concessions over Nagorno-Karabakh,
which is evidence the negotiations are nearing completion. Let us
wait for further developments.