Conflict will be inevitable if negotiating parties make no headway on Karabakh issue

PanARMENIAN.Net - The aim of March 5 negotiations is to create an atmosphere for a dialogue. Such meetings are essential unless we want a war between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the head of the South Caucasus department at CIS states institute said.

According to Felix Stanevsky, the countries have difference scenarios for resolution of a territorial dispute. “Sargsyan insists on a referendum in Nagorno Karabakh; which is hardly surprising, considering 94% of Armenian population is residing there. Aliyev, whose country is capable of supporting the subsidized region, insists on negotiations which have not progressed in 17 years. Russia’s involvement in negotiation process is essential,” the expert noted. “The parties do not want to compromise. Which is natural, as the majority of current Armenian politicians fought for Karabakh in 1989-1994, which makes it a personal issue for them.”

Stanevsky believes the conflict will be inevitable if the negotiating parties make no headway. The success of Arabic revolution can trigger some progress, the expert believes.

On March 5, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan will meet in Sochi at the invitation of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev for a tripartite meeting on the settlement of the Karabakh conflict. The meeting will also be attended by the OSCE MG co-chairs.