Karabakh committee former member negative about OSCE MG activity

June 15, 2011 - 14:22 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenia should not expect positive developments from Madrid principles on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement and the OSCE Minsk Group’s activity, according to Ashot Manucharyan, the former member of Karabakh committee.

“In 1992, Armenia entered the negotiations process of the OSCE MG, which was only within the interests of U.S., and was not advantageous either for Armenia, Artsakh or even Azerbaijan,” Manucharyan told a press conference in Yerevan.

“Armenia was an active negotiator before, but now it merely reacts to the actions of world powers, becoming a “ground for other players.” The country is on the way to catastrophe unless it changes its position in talks,” he said.

Manucharyan also commented on the forthcoming trilateral presidential meeting in Kazan, Russia, saying that no real progress is expected. He underlined the role of Iran in Karabakh process, which, according to him, created new factors enabling to maintain the status quo in the region.

15.06.11 - Press conference of Ashot Manucharyan, former national security advisor to the first President of Armenia

The conflict between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan

The conflict between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan broke out as result of the ethnic cleansing launched by the Azeri authorities in the final years of the Soviet Union. The Karabakh War was fought from 1991 (when the Nagorno Karabakh Republic was proclaimed) to 1994 (when a ceasefire was sealed by Armenia, NKR and Azerbaijan). Most of Nagorno Karabakh and a security zone consisting of 7 regions are now under control of NKR defense army. Armenia and Azerbaijan are holding peace talks mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group up till now.