NEW NEGOTIATION FORMAT IN KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT APPEARED IN EARLY 2010

news.az
Jan 13 2010
Azerbaijan

Rauf Rajabov A new format that can be conditionally called a single
dialogue area in the Major Caucasus region appeared in the beginning
of 2010, Rauf Rajabov.

The negotiations between the Russian and Turkish Prime Ministers
V.Putin and R.T.Erdogan during the latter’s visit to Moscow and the
visit of Russian FM S.Lavrov to Yerevan can form a new geopolitical
situation in the region.

Baku and Yerevan will be a new political space where regional
interests of the Major Caucasus would prevail, said Rauf Rajabov,
editor-in-chief of the 3rd View information and analytical agency.

He considers that the aforementioned de-facto negotiations have
designated the single space for a dialogue both on the settlement
of the Karabakh conflict and the resolution of the Armenian-Turkish
relations.

The political scientist also noted that it is unclear how negotiations
in Moscow and Yerevan will end.

"I think the breakthrough is possible if the parties do not trade but
take into account the interests of all Major Caucasus countries without
exception. Under the mediatory breakthrough I propose ratification
and implementation of the two Armenian-Turkish protocols as well as
the withdrawal of the Armenian troops from five regions of Azerbaijan
that are currently occupied", Rajabov said.

"But the sides involved in the negotiations in Moscow and Yerevan
should not forget the main thing: they have assumed this historical
responsibility of cutting this Gordian knot in the South Caucasus not
by force. By the way, the OSCE Minsk Group should not be blamed for
passiveness. 2009 was marked with the titanic efforts of the co-chairs.

The current negotiation format results from the development of basic
Madrid principles and signing of the Meindorf declaration.

Nevertheless, a new format that can be conditionally called a single
dialogue area in the Major Caucasus region appeared in the beginning
of 2010", Rajabov considers.