Political events in Armenia started with discussions on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, as usual.

Karabakh, as usual, prevailed in political discussions during the past week. Director of Caucasus Institute, political analyst Alexander Iskandaryan said that no UN special representative is capable to facilitate the Karabakh conflict settlement. “The OSCE Minsk Group abolishment, far less its duplication in another instance will decelerate even the current process,” Iskandaryan told aPanARMENIAN.Net reporter. According to him, similar statements are propaganda rather than real attempts aimed at accelerating the conflict resolution. “Readiness for compromises is required for real facilitation,” Iskandaryan said.

The past week started with debates on expedience of recognition of Nagorno Karabakh’s independence by Armenia. According to Caucasus Institute Director Alexander Iskandaryan, such move will change nothing in the negotiation process but will have a strong impact on internal political life of Armenia.

Karabakh issue continues to dominate Armenia’s internal political agenda. Azerbaijani authorities turned provocations into tradition, Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Shavarsh Kocharyan stated, referring to recent incident on the line of contact of NKR and Azeri armed forces. “Diversions aim at frustrating the mediators’ efforts toward maintaining ceasefire, withdrawal of snipers from the line of contact as well as promotion of conflict settlement negotiations,” he said. Kocharyan called on international community to give adequate assessment to Azerbaijan’s provocative actions, aimed at undermining the peace process.

Karabakh issue dominated the internatal political agenda during the past week.

The past week’s debates focused on the protocol envisaging extension of the terms of Russian military base deployment in Armenia.

The internal political events during the past week focused on the forthcoming visit of Russian President and informal summit of CIS leaders. The oncoming visit of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to Armenia suggests positive development of Armenian-Russian cooperation, stated Eduard Sharmazanov, secretary of the Republican Party of Armenia.

Political events focused on Russia’s policy on the South Caucasus and the forthcoming visit of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to Armenia.

Hague court verdict on Kosovo independence is a moral and juridical assessment of the situation which may have an influence on Karabakh conflict settlement, according to Orinats Yerkir deputy chairman Mher Shahgeldyan. As he told July 24 news conference in Yerevan, Kosovo precedent consolidates juridical and diplomatic position of Armenian side in peace talks for Karabakh conflict settlement. “The ICJ ruling is legitimate and acceptable to international community. Kosovo verdict gives de jure confirmation of de facto situation with Karabakh, as well as other conflict zones.”

The political week in Armenia started with congresses of the Armenian National Movement and Armenakan Ramkavar-Azatakan party. On July 17, Yerevan hosted the 16th congress of the Armenian National Movement. In his remarks, Armenia's first President Levon Ter-Petrosyan said that Armenia’s economic development is impossible without resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and normalization of relations with Turkey. Ter-Petrosyan also voiced confidence that the key to Armenian-Turkish reconciliation is in Russia’s hands.