We need to end stall in Karabakh talks to rule out tension – expert

The continuing stall in the Nagorno-Karabakh peace talks is absolutely unacceptable especially in the light of the recent hostilities, an Armenian historian and expert in Azerbaijani studies said today, commenting on the Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers' recent meeting.

“The arrangement of meetings – at least after the recent border tension – aims to rule out military actions to return the parties to the negotiating table,” Tatev Hayrapetyan told reporters.

In her words, the OSCE Minsk Group is doing everything possible to keep the negotiation process alive. Further actions and choices rest with the parties, the expert added.

She noted that against the backdrop of many regional stakeholders, the OSCE Minsk Group is doing everything possible to bring to life the Vienna and St Petersburg agreements.

“The Minsk Group’s reaction to Azerbaijan’s blatant efforts to provoke and escalate [tension] has to be clear and tough,” the expert said, highlighting the Azerbaijani authorities' apparent intention to opt for a military solution.