Negotiations on a Nagorno-Karabakh peace deal have seen new
developments. The co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk group for the first
time in the last 9 years crossed the contact line between Azerbaijani
and Armenian forces and reached Hankendi (Stepanakert) straight from
Baku. Mediators previously visited Nagorno-Karabakh only from Yerevan.
The ceasefire regime initiated in 1994 has been violated in recent
years. Several clashes resulted in several soldiers getting shot.
Regular monitoring though found the situation stabilized.
International observers didn't comment on the initiators of the
gunfire, while both sides accused one another of provocative acts. In
this context the mediators' visit should soothe the situation. A
communique will be released based on the results of meetings between
the Minsk group representatives and the governments of Azerbaijan,
Armenia and the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh. For the moment they
won't reveal further steps in the process of settlement until the
upcoming visit to the region at the end of September. Mediators have
to incorporate the Madrid principles and the suggestions of Russia's
President Medvedev, formulated during his recent visits to Azerbaijan
and Armenia. An OSCE summit is scheduled in December in Kazakhstan to
discuss the agreement that is to be produced. Araz Azimov, special
representative at the Karabakh negotiations, in an interview claimed
that the Armenian government refuses to approve the suggestions. Hard
work remains to be done in convincing Armenia to compromise.
Kazakhstan and Russia are planning to force the negotiations process
at the upcoming summit.
Evgeny Krishtalev. Especially for VK
