Stalled negotiations: is peace possible? | – #Stalled #negotiations #peace
Armenia received another response from Baku regarding the peace agreement proposals. Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said this at a joint press conference with German Foreign Minister Annalena Berbok in Berlin.
The minister claimed that in December in Moscow Azerbaijan, Armenia and Russia another meeting of foreign ministers was planned. However Armenia Azerbaijan postponed his participation in the meeting due to the situation regarding his side’s “closing” of the Lachin corridor. “Nevertheless, we made our proposals. A few days ago Azerbaijan We received the following response fromMirzoyan said.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia noted that this is a long-term, step-by-step process. “We continue to work. It is very important to understand that although the Lachin Corridor is closed and problems remain, the negotiation process has not stopped. Another issue is Baku’s anti-Armenian rhetoric towards Armenia or Artsakh (Karabakh – ed.) regardless of whether he is against it, the steps he takes do not contribute to the negotiation process, or even hinder it. Azerbaijan Aggressive actions – consequences of aggression against Armenia, in Artsakh (Karabakh – ed.) the humanitarian crisis has not been resolved”Mirzoyan said. At the same time, the minister assured that the official Yerevan is committed to the peace agenda under any circumstances and will continue its efforts to achieve lasting peace in the region.
Note that this process has been going on for more than a year. During this period of time, Iravan and Baku many times offer although he declared that the 5 points he made are suitable for Armenia, he put forward conditions in return.
Azerbaijan the essence of their proposals is related to mutual recognition of territorial integrity, relinquishment of territorial claims in the future, demarcation of the border and conclusion of a peace agreement.
Armenian side Karabakh demands that Armenians be mentioned in the peace treaty and that a certain status be recognized for them, official Baku and considers it unacceptable.
Thus, we see from Mirzoya’s statement that the process is going on, albeit with difficulty. At the end of last year, the president of Azerbaijan very transparently hinted that Armenia has the opportunity to do something in 2023. Baku can hold out until the end of this year and wait for a comprehensive peace agreement. Although the current processes are not so optimistic in this regard.
I wonder if there could be a surprise in the form of a complete compromise between the parties this year? For example, under what conditions the Armenian side of the mountainous part of Karabakh Azerbaijan can agree to peace with unconditional recognition as an integral part? Is it likely to happen this year?
Independent political expert Nasimi Mammadli answered Pressklub.az’s questions.
He believes that there are several serious reasons for the slow progress of the peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan. According to him, this is due to the contradictory approach of both the parties to the conflict and international powers with interests in the region.
“Currently, the agenda of the negotiation process 10 November 2020is determined by the cease-fire declaration dated After the war, the parties undertook certain obligations with this Declaration. Armenia is armed military has not yet implemented the withdrawal of its units from Karabakh. This also prevents the opening of the corridor that will connect Nakhchivan with the western regions of Azerbaijan. In addition, the issue of returning people forcibly removed from Khojaly, Khankendi, Shusha and other settlements to their places of residence has not been resolved.
Azerbaijan offer The 5 main principles he made are in accordance with international law and can lead to the establishment of real peace in the region. Although Armenia declares that it accepts these principles, it does not change its position of questioning the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. He is trying to disrupt the peace talks with claims about the legal status of Armenians living in Karabakh.
The Armenian government hopes that 2020status quo since November Russian-Ukrainian war may change as a result. Russia If it loses in Ukraine, Armenia will want to take advantage of the growing role of the West in the region. The main goal of prolonging the process is to achieve a new status quo with international support.
Azerbaijan and Russia Europe He considers it acceptable to participate in the negotiations mediated by the Union. The final positive outcome of the peace process this year does not seem realistic. The tension in the relations between the Armenian government and official Moscow is increasing. Russia is trying to keep the peace talks under its control in order to maintain its position in the region. And the West is waiting for an opportunity to take advantage of Russia’s weakening. In such a situation, Armenia, the West and Russia take a similar position regarding the progress of peace talks.
Azerbaijan does not intend to sit at any discussion table regarding the status of Armenians living in Karabakh. He will agree to the international guarantee of the security and rights of the Armenians living there only when all armed Armenian soldiers are withdrawn from Karabakh. At the same time Armenia-Azerbaijan on the borderincluding border crossing points on the Lachin road and customs posts should start working. After that, all Armenians who have accepted the citizenship of Azerbaijan should be ensured free movement to Armenia. Only after that, any international mission can be in Karabakh and monitor”the expert concluded.
Rauf Orujov
The post Stalled negotiations: is peace possible? appeared first on 24 hours.