RUSSIAN ANALYST RULES OUT PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT OF KARABAKH CONFLICT

tert.am
02.08.12

A peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is highly
unlikely, according to Alexander Khramichikhin, a deputy director at
the Russian Institute for Political and Military Analysis.

"A war between Armenia and Azerbaijan will be inevitable sooner or
later, with the parties' positions not coinciding and very often
conflicting one nother to an extreme degree. That is why, I think,
it is not possible to reach a peaceful settlement of the NK conflict,"
the expert told the Azerbaijani News Agency APA in an interview.

Khramikhchin said the process does not inspire any hope, with the
parties no having made a progress since the signing of ceasefire.

Asked what Russia will do in case of a possible war, the Russian
analyst said that the country pursue the same policies as before.

"But if Turkey takes sides with Azerbaijan, Russia will unquestionably
back Armenia. Otherwise, it will maintain neutrality," he added.