DENNIS SAMOUT: "THE STANCE OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IS THAT NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT MUST BE REGULATED ONLY IN A PEACEFUL WAY, THROUGH NEGOTIATIONS"
ARMENPRESS
NOVEMBER 30, 2009
ATHENS
ATHENS, NOVEMBER 30, ARMENPRESS: The stance of the international
community and particularly Europe’s is that Nagorno Karabakh conflict
must be regulated only in a peaceful way, through negotiations,
executive director of British "LINKS" research center Dennis Samout
told Armenpress today in Athens.
"This is a message sent many times and a person who is speaking
about war must understand that it is not what the international
community expects. The process which is going on for many years must
be concluded. We are expecting developments in the coming months
which even if will not solve the conflict completely, will take the
parties to the next round of negotiations. All expect progress,"
D. Samout said.
A round-table discussion on "European Security and Peaceful Regulation
of Conflicts in the South Caucasus" will kick off today in Athens on
the initiative of "LINKS". EU special representative in the South
Caucasus Peter Semneby, deputy head of Russia’s Foreign Ministry’s
South Caucasus Department Alexey Dvinyan, assistant secretary of
political affairs of the Turkish Foreign Ministry Unal Ceviqyez
will speak about the unsettled conflicts in the South Caucasus and
their impact.
"Nagorno Karabakh conflict regulation passes within the framework
of OSCE and that is why the round table was organized within the
framework of OSCE Ministerial Council. OSCE is a very important format
of solving conflicts. These meetings in Athens will be very important
opportunities for opening new horizons for the future of Europe,"
he said.
Referring to the process of normalization of relations between Armenia
and Turkey he noted that the international community welcomes the
signing of protocols between Armenia and Turkey. Everyone expects
ratification of protocols and starting of the process. "It is a very
important development in the region. This is a thing that may change
the atmosphere. The efforts of the Armenian and Turkish governments –
ignoring certain criticism make step toward this level are welcoming.
But they must finish what they have started," the British expert said.