Washington Post: Karabakh Reminds Flandria in World War I

PanARMENIAN.Net - "The political and military leadership of Russia is strengthening in the shadow of conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan in Nagorno Karabakh," says an article in the Washington Post, titled Russia's Shadow Empire. Its authors are former Spanish FM Anna Palacio and US German Marshall Fund Consultant Daniel Twining. According to the article, "armies of two countries, which waged a bloody war over the disputed enclave in 1990s, now fire upon each other from trenches situated in the two sides of the neutral territory. This more reminds of Flandria in World War I than contemporary European neighbors. The conflict, frozen with much difficulty, threatens with brutal war, which can devastate the region." On the other hand, authors note that diplomatic break-through is possible exactly over the Nagorno Karabakh issue. "Western governments can back the agreement, according to which Armenia would return occupied provinces to Azerbaijan and would allow Azeri refugees to return to those territories. NK could remain autonomy, until a decision over its status is made at a referendum in the near future. In exchange for Azerbaijan's cooperation, the international community should end sanctions against that country owing to the war in 1991-1994. The West should demand closing Russian military bases in the territory of Armenia, that threaten Azerbaijan, suggest its own "Marshall Plan" for the South Caucasus as a whole and lead those countries to united Europe," the article authors write.