Russian Expert: Russia against Unfreezing of Karabakh Conflict

PanARMENIAN.Net - "The Russian Federation is against unfreezing of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, since it will mean the resumption of hostilities in the region," well known Russian political scientist, chairman of the National Civic Council on International Affairs, Director of the Institute of Political Studies, Professor Sergey Markov stated. In his opinion, presently the Karabakh conflict is frozen and one cannot expect any progress in the near future. Several circumstances including internal split in the NKR can unfreeze the conflict. At the same time there is a possibility of severe political struggle in Azerbaijan and if a party supporting the idea of war wins the situation may change. Domestic crisis in Armenia may result in weakening of Yerevan's support to Karabakh. "All these variants are not likely but are not ruled out," the political scientist noted.



As for the statements by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs, who say 2006 may become a window for the Karabakh conflict settlement, the political scientist does not conceal his pessimism about the matter. "They are charged with the task to speak continually and keep up the negotiation process," Markov said. In his words, the mediators are well aware that the matter concerns "hot-blooded Caucasian politicians." Changes can occur due too sharp modification of the balance of the forces, he said. According to Markov, presently a settlement model is absent and unfreezing of the conflict would mean the resumption of hostilities while the ongoing negotiation process can be viewed as a part of the frozen conflict.