BEST OPTION IS TO LINK OPENING OF ARMENIAN-TURKISH BORDER TO NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT: BRITISH EXPERT

Trend News E.Ostapenko
17.12.2009 20:05

Azerbaijan, Baku

The best option scenario now would be to link the opening of the
Turkey-Armenia with the final settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict, British Transatlantic Institute Director Ziba Norman said.

"But, the political realities dictate that it will not be that smoothly
achieved. There are too many players who are looking to derail the
process. Not least, those in power in the Nagorno-Karabakh itself,"
Norman wrote Trend News in an e-mail.

Turkish and Armenian foreign ministers Ahmet Davutoglu and Edward
Nalbandian signed the Ankara-Yerevan protocols in Zurich Oct. 10.Â
Diplomatic relations between Armenia and Turkey have been broken due
to Armenia’s claims of an alleged genocide, and its occupation of
Azerbaijani lands. The border between them has been broken since 1993.

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.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the U.S. –
are currently holding the peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. General Assembly’s resolutions
on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh region and the occupied
territories.

According to Norman, the U.S is looking to enhance ties with Armenia,
for example, by drawing "Armenia into the NATO partnership action
plan. Opening the Turkey-Armenia border is a very important aspect
of this, so support for Serzh Sargsyan will be essential if this is
to be realized."

Regarding the U.S. Congress granting financial aid to the separatist
Nagorno-Karabakh, Norman noted that the U.S assistance to Armenia
has declined compared with previous years, despite Obama’s promises
to the Armenian lobby on the eve of taking office.

"This shows the Obama Administration have understood the real political
realities of the situation and will not blindly support one side,
the expert added.

The U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate approved a bill on
the general appropriations for the 2010 fiscal year, according to
which assistance to Nagorno-Karabakh will be allocated to the amount
of $8 million. Any restrictions on the implementation of programs in
Karabakh have been removed.

President Serzh Sargsyan’s foreign policy dissatisfies the Armenian
diaspora in the U.S. and this group is the group that lobbied for
the allocation of money and trying to derail the peace process.

"By making a concession to the Diaspora lobby, who have argued for
these funds to be unrestricted, the US may hope to ease conditions
for negotiations," Norman believes.

Do you have any feedback? Contact our journalist at trend@trend.az

Azerbaijan, Baku, Dec. 17 / Trend News E.Ostapenko /

The best option scenario now would be to link the opening of the
Turkey-Armenia with the final settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict, British Transatlantic Institute Director Ziba Norman said.

"But, the political realities dictate that it will not be that smoothly
achieved. There are too many players who are looking to derail the
process. Not least, those in power in the Nagorno-Karabakh itself,"
Norman wrote Trend News in an e-mail.

Turkish and Armenian foreign ministers Ahmet Davutoglu and Edward
Nalbandian signed the Ankara-Yerevan protocols in Zurich Oct. 10.Â
Diplomatic relations between Armenia and Turkey have been broken due
to Armenia’s claims of an alleged genocide, and its occupation of
Azerbaijani lands. The border between them has been broken since 1993.

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.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the U.S. –
are currently holding the peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. General Assembly’s resolutions
on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh region and the occupied
territories.

According to Norman, the U.S is looking to enhance ties with Armenia,
for example, by drawing "Armenia into the NATO partnership action
plan. Opening the Turkey-Armenia border is a very important aspect
of this, so support for Serzh Sargsyan will be essential if this is
to be realized."

Regarding the U.S. Congress granting financial aid to the separatist
Nagorno-Karabakh, Norman noted that the U.S assistance to Armenia
has declined compared with previous years, despite Obama’s promises
to the Armenian lobby on the eve of taking office.

"This shows the Obama Administration have understood the real political
realities of the situation and will not blindly support one side,
the expert added.

The U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate approved a bill on
the general appropriations for the 2010 fiscal year, according to
which assistance to Nagorno-Karabakh will be allocated to the amount
of $8 million. Any restrictions on the implementation of programs in
Karabakh have been removed.

President Serzh Sargsyan’s foreign policy dissatisfies the Armenian
diaspora in the U.S. and this group is the group that lobbied for
the allocation of money and trying to derail the peace process.

"By making a concession to the Diaspora lobby, who have argued for
these funds to be unrestricted, the US may hope to ease conditions
for negotiations," Norman believes.