KAZIMIROV ADVISED ARMENIANS NOT TO SET TO HIGH EXPECTATIONS FROM BAKU NEW INITIATIVES

PanARMENIAN.Net - "I would like to welcome Azerbaijan starting putting forward more constructive initiatives that follow the correct direction on the whole. However, on the other hand, one has to estimate these realistically. Undoubtedly, the issue of opening communications is important, but it is not one of the most important. Some consider the Nagorno Karabakh status a key one, others - liberation of territories and return of displaced persons." This was stated by former OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair, Deputy Chairman of the Association of Russian Diplomats Vladimir Kazimirov, reported APA Azeri agency. Having emphasized that the initiatives are made public in spite of the confidentiality of the talks, he said this shows aiming at external effect rather than a thorough work with Armenians. "To all appearance, this is also aimed at international forums and the coming parliamentary election in Azerbaijan. However, this is not all. More than 17 years ago Azerbaijan strictly blocked Nagorno Karabakh and Armenia regardless of appeals of international structures. Moreover, it incited Turkey and other states to similar actions. Thus, is it easy now to believe in readiness for a drastic change?" he said. Vladimir Kazimirov suggested Armenians should assess the proposal essentially. "In my opinion it can be useful, however one should not expect much", he noted attracting attention to another proposal by Azerbaijan. "This step seems to be made in the right direction, since the proposal to hold talks with Nagorno Karabakh can appear as divergence from attempts to isolate the Armenians of Karabakh. However Azerbaijan's urge to bring talks to community level dialogue again underscore unwillingness to resume Baku-Stepanakert direct contact that was started with Russia's mediation during the ongoing hostilities. The UN Security Council also called the immediate contacts. After all the initial excesses originated not within the NK but from outside. Noting that any kind of contacts between the parties are welcomed V. Kazimirov said that the fact that Nagorno Karabakh is a party to conflict can be proved by the existence of international documents and a number of agreements concluded in 1993-1994. In his opinion, neither a road nor oil pipeline can guarantee non-resumption of hostilities. "Armenians insist on determination of the status of Nagorno Karabakh while Azerbaijanis press for liberation of the seized territories. However there is another problem - sustainable armistice, guarantee of non-resumption of hostilities and refusal from attempts to settle the problem by force. Causalities, militaristic campaign, exaggerated phobias, growth of military budget badly impede the settlement process", Vladimir Kazimirov said.