‘ S. Caucasus conflicts threat stability and security of entire region’

Policy adviser at the US Congress’ Helsinki Commission Michael Och believes the conflicts in the South Caucasus have threatened the stability and security of the entire region. “Despite the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group and the occasional exuberant claims of imminent success, the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict looks little different than 15 years ago”, he said.

Mr. Och, who last month organized a hearing on the Caucasus conflict at the Helsinki Commission, also points out that things are different in Abkhazia and South Ossetia as well, where matters languished unchanged for many years until the 2008 Russia-Georgia war.

The analyst mentions contradictions between two Helsinki principles: territorial integrity and self-determination.  To this day, he says, after two decades of mediation, the parties refer to these two principles as their guiding lights and justification.  ”Neither the negotiators nor the international community have been able to bridge the gap”, hev added.


/APA/