Moscow afraid of recognizing Artsakh as party to Karabakh conflict?

PanARMENIAN.Net - Head of the Fourth CIS States Department at the Russian Foreign Ministry Andrey Kelin said that Moscow believes it is impossible to name Nagorno Karabakh a party to the Karabakh conflict resolution.

Otherwise, a non-constructive atmosphere can be established in negotiations over the Karabakh conflict resolution, Kelin told journalists from the South and Northern Caucasus.

"As far as I understand, indeed, Yerevan insisted earlier on participation of Nagorno Karabakh in negotiations, saying that there should be three parties. However, this was the situation at the stage, when Armenia considered that Karabakh should be a part of Armenia or an independent state," he said. However, according to him, "the opinions have changed."

"And during some Presidents' tenure - I will not name them - it was decided to do without it, as it creates a non-constructive atmosphere," said Kelin.

"Two parties can reach an agreement, what is impossible in such a configuration of three parties. I also conceive that the fact that anyway Karabakh participates in the development of a political stance during these negotiations is discussed inside Armenia, and there is a possibility to reflect this fact in the revised Madrid principles… as, definitely, Karabakh participates in the elaboration of this political platform. However, it is impossible to directly name it a party to negotiations, as Azerbaijan considers Karabakh its inseparable territory," Azerbaijani media quoted Kelin as saying.