AMERICAN EXPERT: "ARMENIA MUST WITHDRAW ITS FORCES FROM FIVE OCCUPIED REGIONS, THEN TWO MORE REGIONS AND NAGORNO KARABAKH"

APA
Oct 28 2009
Azerbaijan

Astana. Laman Agayeva – APA. International conference "Kazakhstan’s
presidency of OSCE: recommendations and opportunities" was held in
Kazakhstan’s Foreign Ministry, APA’s correspondent for Kazakhstan
and Central Asia reports.

Officials, experts of Kazakhstan, political analysts and scientists
from the US, representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited in
Kazakhstan participated in the conference.

Representative of the U.S. Center for Strategic and International
Studies Yanush Bugay, expert of the Jamestown Foundation Vladimir
Socor, Senior Associate of Carnegie Fund Dr. Martha Brill Olcott
and others underlined that Kazakhstan may play an important role in
the resolution of the conflicts in the Caucasus, energy and transit
problems in the region. To the question of APA’s correspondent "How
should the resolution of the conflicts in the Caucasus and Karabakh
problem be approached?" Martha Brill Olcott said: "Kazakhstan during
its presidency in OSCE may be able to play big role in resolution
of frozen conflicts. But Azerbaijan and Armenia should also find
diplomatic way for the resolution of the problem," M. Olcott said.

Vladimir Socor considers that Kazakhstan can not achieve resolution
of the Karabakh problem. "America, Russia and OSCE have been dealing
with the Karabakh problem for long years. It is difficult to reach
solution of the problem in a period of Kazakhstan’s presidency
in OSCE". The expert reminded about bilateral and multilateral
negotiations between US, Turkey, Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia and
said OSCE had its agenda. "OSCE concludes that Armenia and Turkey
should normalize relations at first, which based on the opening of
borders between them. Turkey closed borders with Armenian in 1994
after the occupation of Azerbaijani territories by the Armenian armed
forces. Now the talks are going on that Turkey to open its gates. In
return, Armenia must withdraw its forces from five occupied regions
around Nagorno Karabakh, then two more regions and Nagorno Karabakh
Autonomous Region as well. About one million Azerbaijanis were expelled
from those territories and suffered from the ethnic cleansing against
them. These are difficult duties ahead. Turkey can open the borders
after liberation of five regions. The main condition is that Turkey
will open borders at the same time with the withdrawal of Armenian
troops from the five occupied regions. A priority can not be given to
Armenia during the solution of these problems. It is wrong to think
that we open the doors and then the lands are returned. It will be
a wrong step".