Zhirinovsky: U.S. revitalization in Nagorno-Karabakh conflict possible

By Azernews

By Gunay Hasanova

On the background of changes in the global political scene, there appeared a definite hope for revival of efforts to solve the long-lasting Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

The new replacements in the OSCE Minsk group team, as well as, the recent U.S. presidential elections, may for instance, accelerate the further prospects of Karabakh conflict's settlement. 

Although president-elect Donald Trump is going to primarily focus on America's domestic policy and turmoil in the Middle-East, a number of experts consider that he holds strategic, economic and geopolitical interests in the South Caucasus region. Therefore, he won't be indifferent towards conflicts the South Caucasus countries face. 

The Chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia Vladimir Zhirinovsky believes that the U.S. revitalization in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict during Donald Trump’s presidency is possible.

Zhirinovsky, however, is not sure that Donald Trump will intervene to the affairs of South Caucasus since “the U.S. can’t simply get out of Middle East problems.

“They have enough of their own problems," the Moscow-Baku portal quoted him as saying.

"As in Europe, there are a lot of immigrants in the territory of U.S. as well. Nevertheless, the president-elect Donald Trump may contribute to the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict”, he said, adding that in case if it happens, let’s hope that this contribution will lead to positive results in the resolution of this old conflict.  

As to Trump's policy on Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Iran, Vladimir Zhirinovsky considers that the creation of so-called “the Eastern Union”, which includes Russia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Iran, Syria and Iraq, may promote dialogue between the United States and these countries.

Baku expects the true assistance of Trump-led U.S. to a fair settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. In a congratulatory letter to the new-elect president of the United States, the Azerbaijani leader also expressed hope that the U.S. will contribute to the soonest resolution of the long-lasting conflict.

Trump has business interests in Azerbaijan and knows about the country very well. Previously, he made investments in Azerbaijan and undoubtedly understands the investment attractiveness of the country.

Azerbaijan plays an important role for the West in terms of cooperation in the field of energy security, so it is predicted that Donald Trump will put a modest weight on Azerbaijani factor, the resolution of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict including.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over 1 million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations.

While the OSCE Minsk Group acted as a sole mediator in the resolution of the conflict, the occupation of the territory of the sovereign State with its internationally recognized boundaries has been left out of the due attention of the international community for years.

Armenia ignores four UN Security Council resolutions on immediate withdrawal from the occupied territory of Azerbaijan, thus keeping the tension high in the region.