BAKU: Analyst rules out breakthrough in Azeri-Armenian talks

Azadliq, Baku
July 18 2009

Analyst rules out breakthrough in Azeri-Armenian talks in Moscow

An Azerbaijani political analyst has ruled out any breakthrough in the
Karabakh peace process as a result of the Moscow meetings between the
Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents on 17 and 18 July, the opposition
daily Azadliq has reported.

The paper quoted political analyst Zardust Alizada as saying that in
their recent speeches the presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia have
demonstrated their unwillingness to go for concessions. Therefore,
Alizada said, breakthrough in the negotiations is not expected.

"Ten days ago, there was a strong likelihood of some kind of a joint
statement if not an agreement. But then, speeches by both presidents
showed that the sides, especially Armenia, were not ready for
concessions. After that, the Azerbaijani president’s statement that "a
military solution cannot not ruled out", which he always says, showed
that it is useless to expect any result from the meeting. All
principles which have been agreed to date go to the background,"
Azadliq quoted Alizada as saying.