Azerbaijan did Not Justify the Co-Chairs' Expectations

• 02.20.2015, 17:00
• Hermine Mkhitaryan
•  Region,  "Insight" Analytical Center ,  World,  Armenia,  Analytics

- The co-chairs’ visit to region ended. How will you evaluate the effectiveness of the meetings?

- The co-chairs’ visit to the region started in Azerbaijan on February 16, after which they had meetings in Yerevan, and then left for Stepanakert. The US co-chair James Warlick on the first day of his visit to the region mentioned that “serious talks are expected with the President of Azerbaijan and others” towards peaceful settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. However, this time again the Azerbaijani side did not justify the co-chairs’ expectations. The announcements of the Azerbaijani officials made on the occasion proved that the Azerbaijani authorities do not have constructive approach. Moreover, Azerbaijani stance of suggesting starting everything from a new page made an impression that Azerbaijan often tries to fail the entire process of negotiations. Clear evidence of this is the wider use of the Azerbaijani thesis on starting negotiations on peace agreement, by which Azerbaijan tries to avoid more or less agreed Madrid document.

The co-chairs’ visit showed that Azerbaijan continues behaving like a naughty child, who does not stop presenting his demands. Inciting border incidents Azerbaijan uses its threatening policy first of all directed towards the mediators. For the Armenian side the Azerbaijani claims of “not starting war” do not work. During the recent border escalations the Armenian side proved once more that it is capable of making several times heavier counter-attack against the opponent.

As James Warlick mentioned in an exclusive interview given to Artsakhpress , in the framework of the visit the co-chairs made several new suggestions to the sides. It is not known specifically around what issues the new suggestions are, but it is logical to assume they should be tougher for Azerbaijan provided the present Azerbaijani behavior.  Otherwise it will mean that the mediators give in to Azerbaijan’s threats.