Russian expert: statement adopted in Deauville on Karabakh is routine rather than important

PanARMENIAN.Net - Head of the Institute of Black and Caspian Sea Studies Vladimir Zakharov said the statement adopted by the United States, French and Russian leaders at the G8 summit in the French resort of Deauville on Nagorno-Karabakh issue is routine rather than important.

Adoption of similar statements is a common thing, Zakharov told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. “At the same time, the document’s adoption highlights the key points, to which it will be possible to make reference in future,” concluded Zakharov.

The United States, French and Russian leaders called on Armenia and Azerbaijan on May 26 to move toward a peaceful resolution of the long-standing conflict over the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh.

"We...are convinced that it is time for the sides in the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh to take a decisive step toward a peaceful resolution (of the conflict)," said a joint statement by Presidents Barack Obama, Nicolas Sarkozy and Dmitry Medvedev at the G8 summit in the French resort of Deauville.

"We firmly call on the leaders of the sides to prepare their people for peace, not war," the statement said.

"We call on the presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia to demonstrate political will and finalize...the basic principles (of a peace agreement) during the forthcoming summit in June."

Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev, who has ramped up his country's military power with recent arms deals, has said Azerbaijan is willing to go to war with Armenia to reclaim Nagorno-Karabakh.