Expert: Kazan-hosted meeting on Karabakh issue will end in declaration of good intent

PanARMENIAN.Net - Gaidz Minassian, associate researcher of the French Foundation of Strategic Research (FRS), shared his view on progress in Karabakh issue and expectations from Kazan-hosted Armenia- Russia- Azerbaijan presidential meeting in a conversation with a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

“It's been nearly three years since diplomatic meetings conclude with a declaration by the states of the Minsk Group or by President of Armenia and Azerbaijan under Russian mediation. But if the statements are important, they are largely symbolic and talked about only intentions. But intentions are not goodwill. Gradually, a process parallel to the Minsk Group was established and today we have two references for Karabakh conflict settlement: the Principles of Madrid and the Principles of Sochi. The former are less generic than the latter,” the French expert said.

Commenting on presidential meeting in Kazan, Mr. Minassian noted, “there will likely be a declaration of good intent but Azerbaijan and Armenia will not go further than a reminder of the Principles. Remains to be seen which, Madrid or Sochi ? Here is the whole issue. Neither is willing to assume the role of bad guy in the eyes of Medvedev, Sarkozy and Obama, but neither is willing to sacrifice its interests. A new deal has been grafted on the Karabakh peace process. The domestic politics of Armenia and Azerbaijan is creating new conditions that may influence the course of negotiations.”