Moscow declaration forms good basis for Karabakh conflict resolution

I have read the reports of the interview of President Aliyev with RAI TV. What the President was saying strikes me as being very much the same as he has been saying for some time. Our position is that a peaceful negotiated solution for the Karabakh conflict is the only solution that offers a good prospect for the region. Indeed this is the essence of the Moscow declaration signed by the Presidents of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia. That is why we highly appreciate this declaration and think that it forms a good basis on which future action for the resolution of the conflict can be based.

The problem of "enemy image" in Azerbaijan, but to be frank, also in Armenia, is a series one but it is not insurmountable. A lot of work needs to be done and should be done and government and society in both countries must work together in this regard. However it is also easy to be very pessimistic about this issue. I have been in many situations where people from Armenia and Azerbaijan, from all levels of society, have met each other and although they were meeting each other for the first time soon found they had many things in common with each other. The Moscow declaration talks about the importance of confidence building measures. The Consortium Initiative and its component members, International Alert, Conciliation Resources and LINKS, have since 2003 engaged with non state actors in the region, working with different sectors of society, from grass roots organizations to politicians and officials. We think there is scope for our work to continue and we would like this work to develop further with the support of the two governments and of the international community.

We have had extensive consultations with the three co-chairs of the Minsk Group, as well as with the governments of Armenia and Azerbaijan whilst we were considering this issue. We have this week made to them some concrete and very practical suggestions about what can be done in the next weeks and months. I have absolutely no doubt that they will treat them seriously and I hope we can see results soon.

Frankly it has been too long already, and this is not good for anybody. Those who say that time is on our side are fools. Every day that passes is a day lost for everyone because people on both sides of the conflict divide are suffering. So I hope that we can see progress soon and all who are involved in this process somehow should engage with this with more energy and more urgency.