KAZAKHSTAN NOT SUBSTITUTE FOR OSCE MINSK GROUP

news.am
Feb 16 2010
Armenia

Kazakhstan’s seeking a more active role in the Nagorno-Karabakh peace
process as OSCE chairing state can by no means be viewed as Astana’s
intention to replace the OSCE Minsk Group formed to deal with the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the former Armenian Ambassador to Syria,
orientalist David Hovhannisyan told NEWS.am.

"The Kazakh Foreign Minister may have made a statement on Astana’s
contribution to the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in the
context of Kazakhstan’s role in establishing the cease-fire in the
conflict zone, which, however, does not at all mean that Kazakhstan
can replace the OSCE Minsk Group in the negotiation process,"
Hovhannisyan said.

The expert Alexander Manasyan, in turn, stated that the success of
Kazakhstan’s mission depends on Astana’s balanced attitude to the
conflicting parties. "Kazakhstan is stating now that it is well
informed on the essence of the conflict, but Astana must prove
it. If, during this period, Kazakhstan has not only been kept track
of the negotiations, but has also elaborated balanced and effective
proposals for the settlement, its claims on mediation may be crowned
with success. But if Kazakhstan states it is well informed of the
essence of the conflict, but it is really misinformed, Astana’s
mission is doomed to failure," the expert said.

NEWS.am reminds the readers that at a recent news conference
in Yerevan, OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Kazakh Foreign Minister
Kanat Saudabayev stated that Kazakhstan is well informed of the
Nagorno-Karabakh problem and is keeping track of the negotiations. "We
intend to give possible impetus to the resolution of the problem. But
the key is in the conflicting parties hands. We are cautiously
optimistic about Nagorno-Karabakh peace process," Saudabayev said.