February 16, 2009 - 16:15 AMT
Armen Aghayan: Karabakh conflict can't be settled through talks
Reports on the Armenian leadership's intention to cede Karabakh displease President Serzh Sarsgyan, who, as a matter fact, is going to yield 5 NKR regions to Azerbaijan, an Armenian expert said.

"Besides, the presidential plan envisages a possibility of exchanging Karvachar (Kelbajar) for Shahumyan after conduction of a referendum in Nagorno Karabakh," Armen Aghayan told a press conference today.

"According to the plan, Lachin corridor will remain under Armenia's control, while Baku will recognize NKR's independence. Yerevan and Baku agree on the fate of 5 regions, yet they differ on Karvachar and two regions bordering on NKR," he said.

"The presidential initiative is not supported either inside or outside of Armenia. Yet Azerbaijan and Turkey demand even more than Sargsyan offers. NKR authorities are fully dependent on official Yerevan, but lots of people in Karabakh disagree with Sargsyan's plan."

The Nagorno Karabakh conflict can't be settled through peaceful talks, according to Aghayan.

"There was a war that remained unfinished and Azerbaijan is not going to accept Armenia's peaceful initiatives. Baku is willing to resume hostilities, though doubts the victory," he said.