ICG: CONDITIONS FOR KARABAKH STATUS DETERMINATION CAN BE CREATED IN 12-15 YEARS

PanARMENIAN.Net - The International Crisis Group (ICG) has issued a report containing proposals on the Karabakh conflict settlement, Vice President Alain Deletroz stated during today's press conference. In his words, in its report the Group studies the positions of the parties without reverting to the history. He also noted that history is debatable and consequently cannot promote the resolution of the conflict, since there are notions such as self-determination and territorial integrity. One of the proposals intended for Armenia in the report sounds as follows: "the withdrawal of troops from the seized territories, establishment of bilateral relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan and the determination of Karabakh's status in 12-15 years; the process should be a democratic one." When commenting on the term mentioned Mr. Deletroz noted that the period is meant for the formation of conditions essential for the determination of the status of Karabakh. "People should learn to live together again and the necessary conditions should be created", he noted. When commenting on the statement by Ilham Aliyev, who said that next year the Azerbaijani military budget will make as much as Armenia's state budget Mr. Deletroz noted that armament race would be very dangerous and such position is incorrect. "It is senseless to withdraw troops if Azerbaijan holds such a position. In this case the withdrawal can lead to a military conflict", he said. In her turn, Sabine Freizer, Director of Crisis Group's Caucasus Project stated that the Karabakh leadership was proposed "to stop settling the territories, specifically Lachin, Kelbajar and Aghdam". However she noted that mass settlement was not fixed on these territories. She also informed that the Group has been working on the report during recent 9 months. During this period 9 people constantly worked in the region. According to Ms. Freizer, the report will raise the awareness of the parties to conflict and the international community. The ICG has elaborated three reports: for Armenia, Azerbaijan and Nagorno Karabakh. The report will be presented on September 14.