Azerbaijani political expert: U.S. diplomat's statement on Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is baseless

What are your views on a statement on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict recently issued by the OSCE Minsk Group co-chair countries’ foreign ministers?

The countries co-chairing the OSCE Minsk Group have to make high-flown, but empty statements from time to time as there are no real steps towards a just settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. These statements which lack a specific and practical benefits are hailed as great success and a new step towards resolving the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Then what do you think about the statement by the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg that Washington intends to facilitate a final settlement to the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict?

This is another baseless statement by the American diplomat. We have heard similar statements by various U.S officials many times while things are right where they started – Azerbaijan’s lands are still under Armenian occupation. This fact suggests that the U.S. has not yet been seriously engaged in resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. I can hardly believe the United States has changed its attitude.

Is any decision likely to be adopted during Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to the U.S.?

One should not expect it due to Turkey’s lack of leverage on the United States. The opposite of it is likely to happen - during the visit Turkish prime minister will be demanded to open Turkish-Armenian border opened until April next year. Meantime, the Turkish media will try to present prime minister's visit to Washington as exclusively associated with ways of settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

So, you do not rule out that Turkish-Armenian border will open before the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is resolved in a fair way?

I know one thing exactly - neither the Turkish nor American propaganda will give an open and unambiguous answer to this question. All indications are that the Turkish-Armenian border will open before the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is finally resolved.

May opening of Turkish-Armenian border have a positive impact on settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict?

Opening of Turkish-Armenian border may have a positive impact on settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in future because after Turkish-Armenian border is opened, Armenia will drift towards the West which will solve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict based on universally recognized norms and principles of international law. In this connection, it would be appropriate to recall that the West, the U.S., in particular, have declared recognition of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity on many occasions.


/Day.Az/