RHODRI WILLIAMS: NAGORNO KARABAKH AND PALESTINE CONFLICTS HAVE COMMON FEATURES
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Feb 7 2008
Helsinki.Tamara Qriqoryeva-APA " The problem of IDPs is a difficult
problem in South Caucasus countries. Therefore, these countries can
not regulate the situation in their territories,"Rhodri Williams,
Consultant to the Brookings-Bern Project on International Displacement
told APA
Mr. Williams mentioned that he met Presidents of unrecognized states
within representative of the United Nations Secretary General on
Internally Displaced Persons Walter Kalin’s visit to Georgia. The
most important subject of discussions was to protect Georgians from
violence who will return Abkhazia and South Ossetia again. He stated
that Georgians should decide whether they want to return to their
lands or not and the governments should assist this issue. Mr.
William touched upon Nagorno Karabakh conflict and stated that IDPs
should return to their lands before the solution of status then
the two communities should participate in the determination of
the status. Nagorno Karabakh and Palestine conflicts have common
features. The main difference is that, international law has not
completely formed when Palestine conflict began, but there was
international legal base when Nagorno Karabakh conflict started.
There are broad opportunities for the settlement of Nagorno
Karabakh conflict. Mr. Williams mentioned the visit of Walter Kalin
,representative of the United Nations Secretary General on Internally
Displaced Persons to Azerbaijan in April last year and stated that
the report on it was prepared and it will be adopted soon.
"Special representative did not visit Nagorno Karabakh. Azerbaijani
government probably did not allow it," he said. Mr. Williams stated
that Kalin did not visit Armenia because, there is not any serious
problem on IDPs in this country.