ALIYEV TALKS OF NEW FORMAT OF NAGORNO KARABAKH REGULATION
By Aghavni Harutyunian
AZG Armenian Daily
14/04/2006
Recently, the supposition that the United States suggested new
principles for the settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement
to Azerbaijan seems to be one of the greatest expectations of various
high-ranking Azerbaijani officials. Though Reno Harnish, US Ambassador
to Azerbaijan, stated that the officials of his country made no new
suggestions in the course of the Washington visit of President Ilham
Aliyev, Azerbaijan continues speculating on these ideas. Particularly,
yesterday, according to Trend agency, Ilham Aliyev said that the
process of Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement “is being carried
out in a new format that keeps in line with the national interests
of Azerbaijan.” He added that the new format creates good grounds
for restoration of territorial wholeness of Azerbaijan.
One wonders what he means by speaking of a new format when the
representatives of the mediators and other international organizations
still consider that the OSCE Minsk group is the best format for the
negotiations. If Aliyev means the aspect of Armenia and Azerbaijan,
the only expected change is the participation of Nagorno Karabakh in
the negotiations.
Yet, this factor is hardly in the interest of Azerbaijan.
It may seem quite queer but Aliyev kept from making militant statements
in front of his own people. He just stated that the Azeri authorities
are unwilling to unfold military actions.
It’s worth mentioning that Rene van der Linden, chairman of PACE,
said two days ago that they will expel the country that will resume
military actions in Nagorno Karabakh from the European Parliament. In
fact, Aliyev was quite impressed by the warning of Mr. Rene van
der Linden.