The tenth trilateral meeting of the presidents of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict was held in Sochi. Despite negative forecasts it resulted in some positive acpects. Ilham Aliyev and Serge Sargsyan expressed readiness to speed up agreement on the basic principles of the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement, RIA Novsti reported.
“As the result of intensive negotiations progress in agreement on basic principles of the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement was achieved. Considering importance of shifting to development of the peacemaking treaty, presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia expressed readiness to speed up agreement on the basic principles,” the final document of the meeting says. This item of the joint statement is a positive trend for Azerbaijan, as Baku insists on development of the peacemaking treaty. Moreover, according to the foreign minister of Russia Sergey Lavrov, “Baku and Yerevan proposed Russia to be an initiator of such contacts.” “Dmitry Medvedev accepted it, Lavrov said, emphasizing that Russia “has always stood for such humanitarian ties and is ready to be a mediator.” The proposal is the logic result of the course provided by Moscow in recent years. Ilham Aliyev and Serge Sargsyan gave high appraisal to actions of co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group.
Today, after four years of intensive negotiations with participation of Russia, first results of mediation by the Kremlin can be summed up.
First serious breakthrough in the negotiations under management of Medvedev was the Meyendorff declaration, which stated on improving of trust measures. In 2008 presidents of Armenia, Russia and Azerbaijan signed the declaration on Nagorny Karabakh, which was the second document signed by the sides of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict since the cease-fire treaty 1994.
The first stage of the current mediation humanitarian mission of the Kremlin was the meeting in Astrakhan in 2010. The joint statement at the trilateral meeting of presidents was a breakthrough. Medvedev noted that even though it has humanitarian direction, the statement is very important. Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed to exchange military prisoners and bodies of deceased, which was done right after the statement.
This example gives a hope that progress in humanitarian cooperation will lead to positive dynamic in the process in general. As the result of the meeting in Sochi presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia stated on readiness to contribute to further dialogue between representatives of intelligentsia, scientific and social circles.
It should be noted that trilateral meetings are important for the process of negotiations regardless of their results. The talks fulfilled a significant function of preventing escalation of the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Despite the mediators’ efforts, there is a threat of unfreezing the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and renewal of war. If the countries-mediators do not take real efforts in 2012, nobody can predict what will be the results, considering growing tension at the conflict line and the fact that Baku expresses impatience. “Azerbaijan won’t let settlement the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict focus on simple prevention of war in the region rather than solution of the real problem,” President Ilham Aliyev said on January 16th, AzTV reported.
Renewal of war between Azerbaijan and Armenia will be the most painful strike at Moscow interests in the South Caucasus. Thus, Russia will do its best to prevent escalation of the military conflict.
Elmira Tariverdiyeva, Baku. Exclusively to VK
