The Negotiation Process on Karabakh Conflict Settlement should be Discharged from All Destructive Factors

• 06.24.2016, 12:17
• Arpine Hovsepyan
•  Region,  "Insight" Analytical Center ,  World,  NKR

The meeting in Saint Petersburg on June 20 in fact became the basis for the formation of additional format stimulating the negotiation process. According the joint statement of the Presidents of Armenia, Russia and Azerbaijan, the format will complement the work of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs. It means this format will try to take a key role in the process at this stage, by not excluding the works of the Minsk Group.

In terms of ensuring the effectiveness of the process in any format the most important thing is the existence of necessary conditions for the dialogue. Every negotiation is doomed to failure, if it is beind held in a destructive atmosphere. In other words, the process should be discharged from all the destructive factors. First of all, provocative actions should be excluded.

Let’s start with perhaps the most important point - to give up using the threat of force. The day before the meeting in St. Petersburg Azerbaijan announced about holding large-scale military exercises involving about 25,000 military personnel. Simultaneously Baku and Ankara began joint military drills in Turkey. The exercises will last till June 30. In such circumstances when one of the negotiating sides tries to put pressure on other sides or mediators, it is illogical to talk about the effectiveness of the process.

Secondly, the Azerbaijani side continues the use of military rhetoric. Despite the ongoing meetings and efforts to move Karabakh conflict to a peaceful settlement process Azerbaijan continues threaten with the possibility to solve the conflict by military means.

Thirdly, Baku seriously jeopardizes possibility of negotiations by its interpretations and disinformation. The last obvious lie was announced by the deputy head of Aliyev’s Administration. He said during the meeting in St. Petersburg an agreement was reached on phased settlement of Karabakh conflict. Of course, the Armenian side denied this disinformation that aimed to cause contradictions among the public. And at last, it is important to abandon destructive steps in related fields, including accusations and insults on international platforms.

Otherwise, one cannot exclude that next time Armenian sides may refuse to take part in negotiations having all reasonable justifications. Thus, in order to continue the negotiation process ensuring constructive atmosphere is of primary importance at this stage.