"I do not reproach the mediators of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement. I think the Karabakh settlement is "lucky" in a way, since experienced diplomats from three powers - the U.S., Russia and France - deal with it," British journalist Thomas de Waal said in an interview with PanARMENIAN.Net. In his words, it's very hard to make peace between two new semi-democratic states, which grew up and formed due to this conflict and which are still afraid of each other. The Rambouillet talks proved it once again, he said.

In Thomas de Waal's opinion the internal political processes, first of all elections, impede the negotiation process. "I doubt there will be a breakthrough this year. Though I think the discussion of the stepwise settlement of the conflict is a positive sign. Possibly it will promote the process," he noted.

As for the referendum in Nagorno Karabakh, Thomas de Waal supports any idea, which "bases on democratic will of the people." In his opinion, the referendum in 1991 was held without the participation of the Azeri population and is consequently illegitimate. "It's clear that the referendum will end in favor of Armenians. But there should be a mechanism that will restore the rights of Karabakh Azeris. We can watch the sad example of North Ireland where the majority used democratic processes to suppress the minority," he said.

Full text of the interview