Once again Baku tries to settle the Karabakh conflict by mesne, this time counting on Turkey

PanARMENIAN.Net - However, as we have been repeatedly writing, the co-chair countries would never agree to a rotation, especially if Turkey is to be the substitute. It is just interesting who exactly Baku is determined to replace – Russia or the United States? France is not counted, as in this threesome she really acts as an independent mediator. Russia and the United States are independent too, only Baku hasn’t yet been able to realize it. Neither has she realized that in the Karabakh settlement issue the positions of Moscow and Washington match. Politicians of our neighboring country roughly use the following logic: we are not friends with the U.S., but we have never had a dispute with Russia, so Russia, Turkey and France will take our side. Frankly speaking, this is too naïve an approach, bordering on stupidity. For 22 years Baku has been obstinately refusing to recognize the independence of Nagorno-Karabakh. Moreover, anti-Armenian hysteria in Azerbaijan has reached gigantic and even grotesque dimensions. Baku is dissatisfied with everything on earth - the U.S. activity within the OSCE Minsk Group, annual humanitarian aid extended to Nagorno Karabakh by the United States, Turkey’s attempts to deviate from Baku and normalize relations with Armenia, the neutral position of Iran - in a word, with the whole world. If we add to all of this also the recent cautious statement by Erdogan, declaring that regulation of the Karabakh problem is not the precondition of Turkey but the condition of Azerbaijan which Turkey supports, it becomes clear that Ankara will definitely be next target of hysteria for Baku.

By and large, Aliyev now can rely only on war as a solution to all his problems. But irrespective of outcome of the war, Baku loses. It is also interesting whether Aliyev will dare, for the sake of preserving the power of his clan, to force a direct confrontation with the international community. It is natural that for the sake of power one is ready to take even the worst steps, but in this particular case Aliyev loses everything. Nevertheless, the ruling New Azerbaijan Party (Yeni Azərbaycan Partiyası, YAP) in the run-up to the local elections in Azerbaijan decided to fall back into its old ways, by calling its people to war and refreshing hatred towards the Armenians. Oddly enough, the method still works.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chairman and Executive Secretary of the New Azerbaijan Party Ali Ahmedov declared: “It should be noted with regret that a number of countries in the world, including some of the states that have undertaken the mission of mediation, either find it difficult to display fair stance in this process or at a certain stage are unable to demonstrate resoluteness at the time of important decisions.”

As Azeri media reports, according to Ahmedov, it is most natural if Turkey joins the process of conflict regulation. “Turkey is one of 11 members of the OSCE Minsk Group. So far the co-chair countries have been unable to demonstrate a commitment to settling the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and Azerbaijan’s position as a state subjected to occupation is inadequately protected, which means it is time to change the OSCE Minsk Group structure. Turkey may be the most necessary and useful candidate to improve and complete this format. Turkey is interested in resolving the conflict in the framework of restoring Azerbaijan’s violated rights.Theretofore, we hail Turkey joining the process. Participation of Turkey may give great impetus to the resolution of the conflict,” Ahmadov declared. It should only be clarified whether Turkey is really ready to become a mediator in the conflict, because it is one thing to give empty promises, and another - to engage in business. But does Ahmedov seriously believe that Armenia will allow the participation of a Turkish or any other pro-Azerbaijani diplomat in the settlement of the conflict?