22/02/2019 14:01
Iran interested in Karabakh conflict settlement, while in case of Russia the answer not definite: OSCE Minsk Group ex-co-chair
The most right strategy in moving forward in Karabakh conflict settlement issue is moving by small steps, former U.S. co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Richard Hoagland told the Voice of America.
Stressing that after leaving the state service he presents exclusively his personal viewpoint, Hoagland said that the new authorities of Armenia have adopted right strategy in this regard.
“Nikol Pashinyan presents new generation, he has been elected by the new generation. I think the citizens of Armenia elected him as they want to see new approaches in different sectors of the country,” Hoagland stressed.
At the same time he expressed conviction that Karabakh conflict settlement issue is more complicated for Nikol Pashinyan. “After so many years Armenia’s leader is not from Karabakh, thus he must be very attentive not to make radical changes but approach the issue step by step,” Hoagland said.
The recent developments, including the dialogue between the sides and reduction of the number of clashes on the border gives room for cautious optimism, Hoagland said, but warned not to expect a serious breakthrough.
Today’s package on the table of negotiations, “Lavrov’s project” has not been approved by any of the sides. The document proposed by Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov is based on Madrid principles with some differences.
“The main difference is the proposal of conduction of referendum in Nagorno Karabakh and in the Azerbaijani settlements where displaced Azerbaijanis live,” Hoagland said, adding that the document has not been approved by the sides due to absence of exact date for conduction of referendum.
The former co-chair also stressed that besides serious disagreements over conflict settlement, there are forces in the region who are not interested in the Karabakh conflict resolution.
“The real issue is whether the countries of the region are interested in the regulation of the issue or not. I think Iran is interested in the resolution of the issue, but does Russia really interested in it? The answer is not definite,” he said, adding that there are forces in Moscow which think that in case of Karabakh conflict settlement they will lose important levers of influence on the sides.