EU, U.S TO DELIVER ULTIMATUM FOR ARMENIA TO RETURN AZERBAIJANI OCCUPIED TERRITORIES: POLITICIAN ALEXANDER RAHR
Trend
Dec 2 2009
Azerbaijan
The EU and U.S.A have set a task of stabilizing the situation in the
South Caucasus region and establish closer partnership with both
Azerbaijan and Armenia, but not limit its relations with Georgia,
Russian expert at the German Council of Foreign Relations, the
Russia-Eurasia Center director, Alexander Rahr, said.
"If the EU and the USA really want to have geopolitical influence in
the region, they can not support only one side of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict. I am sure that the Armenians will get an ultimatum to
return the occupied territories of Azerbaijan. It does not cause any
questions. Yerevan understands that it is necessary to return the
lands, " rahr told Trend News over phone from Berlin.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts.
Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the U.S. –
are currently holding the peace negotiations.
Entire western policy has been recently aimed precisely at Tbilisi,
but now it is time for changes. Rahr said that it is necessary for
the West to get the support of all countries in the region to solve
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. First, it involves the release of
occupied Azerbaijani territories.
However, a decision on the status of Nagorno-Karabakh will be postponed
for indefinite period, Rahr said.
Regarding with the influence of Russia, it has a clear tendency to
establish and strengthen energy alliance with Baku, whose fate will
depend on good relations between Azerbaijan and Russia, he said.
"The situation in the region will develop dynamically in the nearest
future. I think that Turkey will ratify the Armenian-Turkish protocols
under the West’s pressure ", Rahr said.
Turkish and Armenian foreign ministers Ahmet Davutoglu and Edward
Nalbandian signed the Ankara-Yerevan protocols in Zurich Oct.
10.Diplomatic relations between Armenia and Turkey were broken due
to Armenian claims of an alleged genocide and its occupation of
Azerbaijani lands. Their border closed in 1993.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
