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WHEN MEDIATORS GET BORED
Naira Hayrumyan
Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/politics26871.html
Published: 14:44:40 - 17/07/2012
Neither Armenia nor Karabakh reacted to the statement by the Co-Chairs
of the OSCE Minsk Group relating to the opening of the Stepanakert
airport. Though the statement was a sensation. The feeling was that
the mediators had really discussed in Baku the issue on the security of
flights and soon maybe even on July 19, on the day of the presidential
elections in Karabakh, the first flight will be held.
But Azerbaijan has already stated that any flight will be considered
encroachment on the air space of their country and relevant measures
will be taken up. The issue on the opening of the airport which is
already ready to be exploited is hanging in the air.
While the issue on the possible steps by the mediators in case
Azerbaijan keeps rejecting all the initiatives and "confidence
measures" have been clarified. Baku rejected the proposal on the
withdrawal of snipers from the front line and on the creation of
mechanisms to investigate the border incidents, and the signing of a
non-aggression pact. Now, it is threatening to hit Karabakh aircrafts.
Apparently, a couple of more rejections, and the mediators will have
to state that it is senseless to negotiate with Aliyev. Then the
only version will be Karabakh's international recognition with all
its consequences.
Baku's refusal causes one more interesting nuance. As we know,
Azerbaijan, along with Turkey, keeps periodically stating that the
first step should be the withdrawal of the Armenian troops from
Karabahk. Perhaps, this is the condition that Azerbaijan put forward
in exchange of the "permission" to open the airport. But, apparently
the Armenian party refused. Though it is more likely that the mediators
themselves insisted on their position.
The rejection by the mediators to dwell on the issue of withdrawal of
the Armenian troops from Karabakh makes Baku especially nervous. On
these days, Azerbaijan's foreign minister Elmar Mamedyarov expressed
doubts relating to the effectiveness of the activities of the Minsk
Group. Baku has not yet understood that none of the mediators is
interested in the return of territories to Azerbaijan. The most they
would do is to suspend the recognition of the NKR and keep the status
quo. But this time will come especially is Baku keeps pushing the
mediators to do that so hardly.
As to the airport, then along with the fact that it is really necessary
to the population of Karabakh who can communicate with the foreign
world only on land, the airport is necessary also to the mediators. It
is difficult to say why, there can be different versions starting from
transport of military shipment to Afghanistan for the West and ending
with the supply of military shipment for the Russian troops. Most
likely, Baku is against these versions.
Naira Hayrumyan
Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/politics26871.html
Published: 14:44:40 - 17/07/2012
Neither Armenia nor Karabakh reacted to the statement by the Co-Chairs
of the OSCE Minsk Group relating to the opening of the Stepanakert
airport. Though the statement was a sensation. The feeling was that
the mediators had really discussed in Baku the issue on the security of
flights and soon maybe even on July 19, on the day of the presidential
elections in Karabakh, the first flight will be held.
But Azerbaijan has already stated that any flight will be considered
encroachment on the air space of their country and relevant measures
will be taken up. The issue on the opening of the airport which is
already ready to be exploited is hanging in the air.
While the issue on the possible steps by the mediators in case
Azerbaijan keeps rejecting all the initiatives and "confidence
measures" have been clarified. Baku rejected the proposal on the
withdrawal of snipers from the front line and on the creation of
mechanisms to investigate the border incidents, and the signing of a
non-aggression pact. Now, it is threatening to hit Karabakh aircrafts.
Apparently, a couple of more rejections, and the mediators will have
to state that it is senseless to negotiate with Aliyev. Then the
only version will be Karabakh's international recognition with all
its consequences.
Baku's refusal causes one more interesting nuance. As we know,
Azerbaijan, along with Turkey, keeps periodically stating that the
first step should be the withdrawal of the Armenian troops from
Karabahk. Perhaps, this is the condition that Azerbaijan put forward
in exchange of the "permission" to open the airport. But, apparently
the Armenian party refused. Though it is more likely that the mediators
themselves insisted on their position.
The rejection by the mediators to dwell on the issue of withdrawal of
the Armenian troops from Karabakh makes Baku especially nervous. On
these days, Azerbaijan's foreign minister Elmar Mamedyarov expressed
doubts relating to the effectiveness of the activities of the Minsk
Group. Baku has not yet understood that none of the mediators is
interested in the return of territories to Azerbaijan. The most they
would do is to suspend the recognition of the NKR and keep the status
quo. But this time will come especially is Baku keeps pushing the
mediators to do that so hardly.
As to the airport, then along with the fact that it is really necessary
to the population of Karabakh who can communicate with the foreign
world only on land, the airport is necessary also to the mediators. It
is difficult to say why, there can be different versions starting from
transport of military shipment to Afghanistan for the West and ending
with the supply of military shipment for the Russian troops. Most
likely, Baku is against these versions.