Arman Melikyan: Baku will not start war without superpowers’ support

May 6, 2010 - 17:27 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Azerbaijan will not start a war against Karabakh without superpowers’ support, according to former NKR Foreign Minister Arman Melikyan.

As Arman Melikyan told a joint news conference with LPA chairman Hovhannes Hovhannesyan , “Today, negotiation process is being conducted in accordance with Baku’s wishes, so Azerbaijan will not withdraw from the process. Still, Azerbaijan seeks to speed up negotiations. Soon our authorities will see the necessity to change current format of talks.”

Melikyan characterized Baku’s statements on withdrawal of Armenian forces from Lachin and Kelbajar as a mere wish on behalf of Azerbaijan and Turkey.

“Yet, Karabakh territories can become an object of bargain between Russia and Azerbaijan. However, neither Azerbaijan nor Turkey became reliable partners to Russia, thus giving us a chance to maneuver,” ex-FM stated. According to Arman Melikyan’s forecast, active negotiations will be continued for another 3-5 years.

Hovhannes Hovhannesyan, in turn, expressed doubts over the possibility for Turkey to become OSCE MG Co-Chair. “Given US efforts to alter the status quo, Karabakh issue might soon be resolved,” LPA chairman concluded.

The conflict between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan

The conflict between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan broke out as result of the ethnic cleansing launched by the Azeri authorities in the final years of the Soviet Union. The Karabakh War was fought from 1991 (when the Nagorno Karabakh Republic was proclaimed) to 1994 (when a ceasefire was sealed by Armenia, NKR and Azerbaijan). Most of Nagorno Karabakh and a security zone consisting of 7 regions are now under control of NKR defense army. Armenia and Azerbaijan are holding peace talks mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group up till now.