AZERBAIJAN SEEKING TO SHIFT BLAME FOR FAILURE OF PRESIDENTS’ MEETING IN KAZAN – EXPERT

news.am
Aug 2 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN. – The motivation of the current moment in Nagorno-Karabakh
peace process is the disappointment which is observed in the world,
particularly among the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing countries.

It comes after the sides failed to progress towards the conflict
settlement seeking compromises on the basis of proposals agreed
between the OSCE Minsk Group countries and presented by Russia at the
meeting of Armenian, Azerbaijani and Russian President’s in Kazan,
Chairman of the Committee for CIS and ties with Russian Nationals,
RF State Duma, Director of the CIS Institute Konstantin Zatulin told
Armenian News-NEWS.am.

According to him, over the recent year Azerbaijan escalated tension
over Nagorno-Karabakh, hoping the co-chairing countries and the
mediators would believe in Baku’s warlike statements and make
concessions.

“One of Azerbaijan’s targets became Russia. Baku has been exerting
pressure on Moscow in 2 ways, the first – soothered Russian
representatives at the high level, the next – carried out lobbying
activities among those who were not affected by Baku’a charm. It was
accompanied by Baku’s statements on its intention to resolve the
conflict by military means,” Zatulin noted, adding the reason for
choosing so uncomplicated tactics lies in very complex games around
the Armenia-Turkey rapprochement, disrupted due to Azerbaijan’s
position. As a result, Turkey faced a dilemma, particularly to
comply with an agreement or not to violate ties with Azerbaijan,
he emphasized.

“Securing its aim in this regard, Azerbaijan took the offensive on
other aspects. Baku’s attack – pressure on the mediators and Armenia
is not sufficiently profound. First of all it is not based on the
actual intention of Azerbaijan to go against everyone and everything
in the question of peace or war in Karabakh. It was a psychological
attack on the enemy,” said Zatulin.

The expert stressed that Azerbaijan has achieved certain success thanks
to this tactics but on the whole the OSCE Minsk Group countries were
not ready to support Azerbaijan’s position.

“Forcing Armenia to agree to the decision, which would in fact leave
Nagorno-Karabakh within Azerbaijan, would lead to failure of further
negotiations and settlement of any kind, since it is clear that Armenia
can not agree to it. As a result, the attempt failed,” said Russian MP.

Some mediators were disappointed in Baku as Azerbaijan appeared to
be a country which bears responsibility for a deadlock in talks,
even if it is temporary, the expert believes.

“Presently Azerbaijan is trying to find ways that would allow
mediators not to perceive it as a country which appraises war, but
a state standing for peace and working for it,” Zatulin concluded.