UNIQUE WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY HAS OPENED FOR NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT RESOLUTION NOW

Trend
Dec 4 2009
Azerbaijan

A unique window of opportunity has now opened for the resolution of
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, European Expert on the South Caucasus
Amanda Akcakoca believes.

"It became possible thanks to a new dynamism in the region brought
about by new realities in the aftermath of the Russia-Georgia war which
has been enhanced by President Obama’s willingness to reset relations
with Moscow, the Turkish-Armenian rapprochement, a more active EU and
a willingness by the West to revisit the debate on European security,"
European Policy Center expert Akcakoca wrote Trend News in an e-mail.

The Greek chairmanship of the OSCE made a statement on the process of
the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement on Dec.

2 as a result of the Athens meeting of the Council of Foreign
Ministers.

The statement was adopted as a result of the meting of the foreign
ministers of France, Russia and the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State
and the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia.

The statement provides full support to the Azerbaijani and Armenian
leadership in peacefully resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,
based on the Madrid document in order to immediately begin preparation
of a comprehensive peace agreement.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts.

According to the expert, the resolution of the Karabakh conflict should
be a top priority for the EU in a region of increasingly geostrategic
importance to the Club.

Only resolution of this conflict will bring significant stability and
prosperity to the South Caucasus which is important for many reasons
including energy security.

"EU Foreign Minister Baroness Ashton should underline her support by
traveling to both Baku and Yerevan, helping to nudge both leaderships
into going the remaining distance to reach agreement on the Basic
Principles," she said.

The expert said the EU must be ready to step in at any time and it
will be a good test for the EU’s newly ratified Lisbon Treaty and
its restructured diplomatic service.

Clearly the US must maintain the momentum (together with partners in
Moscow) to get a deal agreed, the expert believes.

"But most of all the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan must reach
deep into their souls and find the courage agreed a solution that
will change the face of the South Caucasus forever," she added.