No major breakthrough should be expected without taking into account Karabakh factorNovember 19, 2007 - 12:44 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The report of the International Crisis Group Nagorno Karabakh: Risking War is based on stereotyped ideas of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, NKR MP Gegham Baghdasaryan said."First of all, it refers to the artificial balance in evaluations. The report holds that Armenia and Azerbaijan should stop the dangerous race for weapons and avoid military rhetoric, which is not unbiased since the shares of responsibility of the sides for militaristic statements cannot be compared. The same is about the military potential and compromise. The framework of perceptions of the Armenian side is at least distinct unlike Azerbaijan which has not explained yet what Azerbaijan is ready to give up and concede. "With regard to the recommendation of the ICG to increase the role of the EU's representative for the South Caucasus, who should support direct contacts with all parties, assess conflict-related funding needs, use European Neighborhood Policy (ENP) reviews and funding to promote confidence building, as well as institution building and respect for human rights and the rule of law, we might agree if all the regional factors and interests of all the actors were taken into account. No major breakthrough should be expected without taking into account the Karabakh factor. Meanwhile, Karabakh is already a part of the regional military and political balance. "The report does not take it into account. Moreover, the report holds that Nagorno Karabakh and most regions surrounding it are occupied by the ethnic Armenian forces. It turns out that we are occupying our own home. "As to signing a new document before the election, I could not understand the effort to relate the settlement to the elections. However, the mediators are used to viewing the talks in this context, therefore I think signing of an agreement is hardly probable. Not only some disputable statements in the report arouse concern but also the statement that the resumption of the war is highly probable. It is important to understand where this "watchfulness" is directed, at the prevention of war or instilment of thoughts about the inevitability of war. It may be an effort to promote peace through threats of war," he said, KarabakhOpen reports. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Deputy U.S. Secretary of State to arrive in Yerevan Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources Richard R. Verma will travel to Yerevan, Armenia from June 17-19 to. Armenia recalls Belarus envoy for consultations Armenian Ambassador to Belarus has been called to Yerevan for consultations, a spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry reveals. Armenia denies Azerbaijan's ceasefire accusations The Armenian Defense Ministry has denied Azerbaijan's accusations of violating the ceasefire. Armenia will leave Russian-led military bloc, says Pashinyan Armenia will leave the Russian-led Collective Security Organization, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said, without giving any dates. |