West has different attitude to Nagorno Karabakh conflict

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Nagorno Karabakh conflict is very complicated in comparison with other frozen conflicts on pos-Soviet area, said Alexander Rar, director of Russia and CIS Programs for the Foreign Policy Council of Germany.



According to him, Western countries' attitude to Nagorno Karabakh conflict slightly differs from their attitude to the conflict in Transniestria, or the situation in Moldova or Georgia. "The West, like Russia, has now idea how to resolve the conflict without taking sides with any of the conflicting parties. From the point of view of international law, Nagorno Karabakh clearly belongs to Azerbaijan, however, that right is subject to change as was the case with Kosovo. To make radical changes, it is necessary to change the ratio of forces in major international organizations, including UN In six months' time, China will be actively involved in resolving international problems, but since reforms in organizations are blocked by member countries, it will be very hard to change anything. Different approaches to the basic principles have hampered the conflict resolution during the past 20 years," the expert stressed.



At that, he noted that the OSCE MG states dealing with Karabakh conflict have their own geopolitical interests.



"The situation with Russia is complicated as it is unwilling to spoil relations with either Armenia or Azerbaijan. United States certainly resists Russia's attempts to establish firmer positions in post-soviet area, while Russia itself wishes to push U.S. to the background through the Karabakh conflict. That's why the West and Russia feel comfortable with the current status quo. But no dynamics is observed. EU and United States have spared no effort to strengthen their positions in South Caucasus following the August 2008 war. Despite the attacks against South Ossetia, Georgia is facing the prospect of joining NATO, while the West seriously considers the possibility of opening European institutions in South Caucasus. The closed Armenian-Turkish border and absence of diplomatic relations between two countries appears to be the only obstacle. EU exerted much pressure on the West to start the current rapprochement process with Armenia. Such efforts are also aimed at undermining Russia's geopolitical interests, in view of the plans to lay east-west pipelines," Rar said Dipkurier NG reports.