Trend, Azerbiajan
Nov 14 2009
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resolution not depends only on conflict
sides: Former Special Assistant to US president
14.11.2009 11:46
U.S, Washington, Nov. 14 / Trend News N.Bogdanova /
Former Special Assistant to US president Mark Medish believes the
adjustment of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict doesn’t depend only on the
conflict sides.
"As somebody who worked on the Nagorno-Karabakh negotiations during
the Clinton Administration, I have long believed that a mutually
acceptable settlement is within reach, but unfortunately opportunistic
political calculations in various capitals have blocked it" former
Senior Director for Eurasian Affairs on the US National Security
Council 2000-2001, who currently is a senior adviser at the Carnegie
Endowment for International Peace said in an interview with Trend
News.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan
lost all of Nagorno-Karabakh except for Shusha and Khojali in December
1991. In 1992-93, Armenian armed forces occupied Shusha, Khojali and
seven districts surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh. Azerbaijan and Armenia
signed a ceasefire in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group –
Russia, France, and the U.S. — are currently holding peace
negotiations.
Speaking about the stability conditions in South Caucasus former US
president’s assistant stressed that "Basically all conflicts sides
have understood that the path of confrontation is extremely dangerous
and not in anybody’s interest".
He also noticed that "the scars are deep and anxiety remains high. The
consequences of recklessly unfreezing a frozen conflict, as Georgia
and Russia did last year, could be like Pandora’s Box. Therefore
efforts must be re-doubled for negotiated, peaceful resolution of all
regional disputes, with the help of international mediators as much as
needed".
Mr. Medish also commented on U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Philip
Gordon’s doubts that without progress in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
solution, the Turkish-Armenian protocols will be ratified by the
Turkish Parliament.
"I find it difficult to predict the behavior of the US Congress and
therefore I would be careful to make statements about other countries’
parliaments. In any case, the Turkish-Armenian rapprochement is to be
welcomed as a step toward regional stabilization and integration" –
analyst mentioned.
Regarding the cooperation between US and Russia in security sphere, he
said that "the "reset" means that the US and Russia are exploring ways
to reduce recent tensions through concrete areas of cooperation".
According to analyst, the most obvious areas are a new nuclear arms
reductions agreement, cooperation on Afghanistan, and a revised
approach to missile defense.
"It seems to me that the Azerbaijan’s Gabala facility is still a
relevant option for consideration, however the focus has also shifted
to the Aegis sea-based system"- he added.