Melik-Shahnazarian: New theories of conflict settlement advanced

‘The negotiating process on the Karabakh conflict settlement has recently been at a deadlock, while international mediators don’t show activity due to the upcoming presidential elections in Azerbaijan. Yet various international research centers have advanced new theories of the conflict settlement. For example, the last report of the International Crisis Group contains some approaches ,which are dangerous for the Armenian side’s position,” political scientist Hrant Melik-Shahnazarian said at a meeting with reporters today.

In his words, expert circles of the West try to equate the actions of Armenia and Azerbaijan. The political scientist noted that the extradition of Ramil Safarov and his glorification by Azerbaijan have always been perceived as the main reason of the collapse of the Karabakh conflict negotiating process, but in parallel with it, an attempt is now being made to present the plans to operate Stenakert airport as a factor.

“This thesis was already advanced in the report released by the International Crisis Group yesterday. The studies, which were conducted by the United Royal Services Institute for Defense and Security Studies (RUSI) and financed by Azerbaijani side, contain the same thesis. They are trying to develop that thesis and move it to the political arena,’ the expert noted.

According to H. Melik-Shahnazarian, the second thesis is one about inefficient activities of the OSCE Minsk Group, that is to say, the Minsk Group has for years failed to contribute to the conflict settlement and the format of negotiations should therefore be changed.

“Azerbaijan is really interested in expanding the format of the OSCE Minsk Group because its main ally and elder brother – Turkey is not a Co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group and has no opportunity to be engaged in active politics in the South Caucasus. The Azerbaijani side tries to stir up activity at the Armenian-Azerbaijani border by taking subversive actions so that those theses would not be unfounded. It aims to show to the international community that the conflict was not frozen,” Melik-Shahnazarian said.

As regards the third thesis, the political scientist stressed that Azerbaijan tries to show that although Armenia won the war, nevertheless it has lost in the wide sense as it lags behind by its economic indices. According to the political scientist, in this context, data about economic progress, Azerbaijan’s defense budget, etc. are constantly announced.

“These theses are now being advanced at an expert level. They will become an information factor, but I am convinced that with the lapse of time they will become a political factor as well so we should struggle against this,” he stated.