Armenian experts share expectations from presidential meeting in Kazan

June 20, 2011 - 19:05 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - June 25 Kazan-hosted meeting between Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents will determine further course of Minsk process, according to international law expert.

As Andreas Ghukasyan told a news conference in Yerevan, negotiation format will change if Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev refuses to sign the document suggested.

“OSCE can't wait forever for Armenia and Azerbaijan to come to an agreement; the organisation has may other issues to address. Helsinki Final Act is already violated, which means there are no longer any collective, inviolable borders in Europe.”

“June 25 is a challenge to ruling regimes of both countries. Unless any specific steps are taken during the meeting, the regime in both countries might change,” the expert noted.

A political expert Alexander Markarov in turn, presented two possible outcomes of the meeting in Kazan: either a document, with the parties expressing readiness to continue negotiations will be adopted, or a new document to serve as a basis for further talks will be presented.

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.