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AZERBAIJAN'S ADVANTAGE MAY HEIGHTEN RISK OF WAR - ARMENIAN EXPERT
tert.am
09.01.13
If Azerbaijan is able to gain stronger political support from the
international and military community, it may pose rather higher
risks of war, the political scientist Hrant Melik-Shahnazaryan told
reporters.
The Nagorno-Karabakh problem is impossible by means of negotiations,
and preserving the present situation is the best thing that can be
sought now.
"The preventive measures Armenia is taking suggest that there is no
threat of war at least in the foreseeable future. At present, the
best hope is to somehow defuse tension," Mr Melik-Shahnazaryan said.
Last year's processes showed that the negotiations reached a stalemate.
"There are no grounds for seeing any positive process in the
negotiations. At present, both the Azerbaijani and Armenian sides,
and even the mediators, are trying to lay the responsibility for the
failure on each other," the expert said.
With respect to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev's New Year message,
Mr Melik-Shahnazaryan voiced the opinion that the Azerbaijani leader
is thus trying to "adapt his society to the complication of a warlike
situation."
"Building up tension somehow causes Azerbaijan's society to unite
round the authorities. Aliyev will try to create permanent tension
over the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict - at least until the presidential
election thereby diverting public attention from more serious domestic
political problems," Mr Melik-Shahnazaryan said.
On the other hand, the expert believes that rather interesting
developments should be expected this year, the presidential election
in Armenia and Azerbaijan being the reason.
tert.am
09.01.13
If Azerbaijan is able to gain stronger political support from the
international and military community, it may pose rather higher
risks of war, the political scientist Hrant Melik-Shahnazaryan told
reporters.
The Nagorno-Karabakh problem is impossible by means of negotiations,
and preserving the present situation is the best thing that can be
sought now.
"The preventive measures Armenia is taking suggest that there is no
threat of war at least in the foreseeable future. At present, the
best hope is to somehow defuse tension," Mr Melik-Shahnazaryan said.
Last year's processes showed that the negotiations reached a stalemate.
"There are no grounds for seeing any positive process in the
negotiations. At present, both the Azerbaijani and Armenian sides,
and even the mediators, are trying to lay the responsibility for the
failure on each other," the expert said.
With respect to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev's New Year message,
Mr Melik-Shahnazaryan voiced the opinion that the Azerbaijani leader
is thus trying to "adapt his society to the complication of a warlike
situation."
"Building up tension somehow causes Azerbaijan's society to unite
round the authorities. Aliyev will try to create permanent tension
over the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict - at least until the presidential
election thereby diverting public attention from more serious domestic
political problems," Mr Melik-Shahnazaryan said.
On the other hand, the expert believes that rather interesting
developments should be expected this year, the presidential election
in Armenia and Azerbaijan being the reason.