Interfax, Russia
March 2 2010

Nagorno-Karabakh conflict could be settled soon – Armenia’s ex-president

YEREVAN March 2

The conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh could be resolved soon, Former
Armenian President and opposition Armenian National Congress leader
Levon Ter-Petrosyan said at a rally held in Yerevan on Monday to mark
the second anniversary of mass riots following the 2008 presidential
poll, when ten people were killed in clashes between police and
protesters.

"The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has entered the stage where it could be
settled. Armenia’s return of five districts to Azerbaijan is on the
agenda today. This issue has been practically sorted out,"
Ter-Petrosyan said.

The presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan have found the key to resolve
the dispute over Nagorno-Karabakh’s future status, the presence of
peacekeepers in the region, as well as the land border between Armenia
and Azerbaijan, he said.

Armenia’s policy aimed at normalizing relations with Turkey has
failed, the opposition movement leader said.

"Turkey has managed to stop the process of international recognition
of the Armenian Genocide, and the border between Armenia and Turkey
will stay closed until the Karabakh conflict is settled," Ter-
Petrosyan said.

Armenia is facing five key challenges today – the Nagorno-Karabakh
peace process, the normalization of relations with Turkey, demographic
problems, law enforcement and the fight against corruption, he said.

"Until the first two problems are sorted out, the international
community will not pay attention to the situation with demography and
human rights in Armenia," Ter-Petrosyan said.