"NAGORNO KARABAKH CAN BRING THE ENTIRE CAUCASUS DOWN AND LEAD TO A TERRIBLE ETHNIC WAR"

The OSCE Minsk Group creates a platform to reach a peaceful solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and prevent possible military actions, said Maxim Shevchenko, a journalist, a Russian leading expert on ethnic politics and conflict, presenter of the first television channel.

"The peace process is the main format for solving such conflicts, and the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is not exception," said Shechenko, answering the question of Trend correspondent at a meeting with journalists at the Russian Public Chamber.

He said the conflicting parties should not abandon the MG format. According to him, it needs to strengthen the efforts of the parties in the peace process.

According to Shevchenko, the main task of mediators is to prevent the possibility of a military solution. "This can bring down the entire Caucasus and lead to terrible ethnic war," he said.
According to the analyst, attempts by the Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to normalize relations between Baku and Yerevan are very important and significant.

"The relations of not only international players, but also regional - Turkey, Russia and Iran - are important for the solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict," he believes.

According to Shevchenko, these countries have direct interest to prevent the escalation of the conflict in the region and more clearly links with the region.

"This trio is a constructive platform to address the South Caucasian problems, as these countries understand that the escalation of violence in Nagorno-Karabakh zone directly affects the entire Caucasus," said Shevchenko.


/Trend/