ALEXEY VLASOV: ARMENIAN-TURKISH PROTOCOLS A STAGE IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH PEACE PROCESS

news.am
Nov 5 2009
Armenia

Pfter starting negotiations with Turkey, Armenia has to achieve a
consensus on Nagorno-Karabakh as well, stated Alexey Vlasov, Director
of the Information-Analytical Center for Studies of Post-Soviet States,
Moscow State University. According to him, the Armenian-Turkish
protocols are one of the stages of stabilization in the South Caucasus.

"There exists a broader aspect of this process, with protocols playing
an important, but not the only, role. Speaking of the protocols,
we should realize that they apply to only two states, but the entire
context embraces the Nagorno-Karabakh problem and the broader aspect
of security in the South Caucasus," Vlasov said.

Quoted by the Tend news agency, the expert said that the external
forces, including the OSCE Minsk Group, pointed out that the
Armenia-Turkey normalization process must be followed by progress in
the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process.

According to him, Turkish officials have for a long time been assuring
Azerbaijan that Turkey is not doing anything against Azeri interests.

"It is time now when either the signed Armenian-Turkish protocols
must cause progress in the Nagorno-Karabakh process or the Turkish
political elite will fail to keep its promises," Vlasov said.