news.az, Azerbaijan
April 17 2010

It’s a pity Europe does not deal with Karabakh like it did with Kosovo
Sat 17 April 2010 | 08:55 GMT Text size:

Dr. Max Georg Meier News.Az interviews Dr. Max Georg Meier, regional
director of Hanns Seidel Foundation in Central Asia.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has recently criticized the world
community representatives unfamiliar with the Karabakh conflict who
often make untimely statements on this problem. Do you think the
Karabakh conflict is well known in the world and in Europe, in
particular?

I agree that the world community is not well familiar with the details
of this problem. I think there were more discussions around this issue
in the past. However, now the Karabakh conflict has been distanced
from the priorities agenda especially in Europe under the influence of
different conflicts throughout the world. This is my opinion based on
observations of the developments in the past 2-3 years.

How do you assess the prospects of the soonest resolution of the
Karabakh conflict?

The OSCE Minsk Group is moving too slowly in its activity and I do not
know why. It is not ruled out that the current process between Turkey
and Armenia will create a new dynamics for the Karabakh conflict
settlement. However, I think this country is not among priorities for
the western countries.

Meanwhile, Europe is stating importance of energy sources of
Azerbaijan. Are Europeans not interested in stable region of energy
supplies?

Certainly, they are. The stability of energy supplies meets EU
interests. The resolution of the Karabakh conflict will be useful for
all parties. If Europe has taken the same efforts for the resolution
of the Karabakh conflict as it did in Kosovo, the situation would have
been more positive than it is know. Favorable opportunities regularly
appear in the resolution of any conflicts and it is necessary to catch
the moment to settle the problem. If one misses the chance, he will
have to wait for an undefinite period. The same can be said about
Germany’s experience that has faced the issue of reintegration of the
Western and Eastern parts of the country. An opportunity appeared in
the process and the German leadership could use it. There is such a
chance in every conflict but I do not see any significant achievement
in the resolution of the Karabakh conflict.

You have mentioned Kosovo whose independence was recognized by several
countries. Is there a chance for recognition of Karabakh, for which
Armenians are striving?

No, I don’t think so. I do not think that this will happen. First of
all, it is diplomatically impossible, considering the decisions made
by the UN, Council of Europe and other organizations on UN. But the
process of resolution should be intensified though, unfortunately,
things are not changing.

Lala B.
News.Az