‘War threat in Karabakh conflict zone is real’

 Day.Az interviewed Rector of the Georgian Diplomatic Academy Soso Tsintsadze.
 
The 20th anniversary of the Khojaly genocide was marked on Feb.26. How do you think, could the issue of recognition of the Khojaly genocide be raised in the Georgian parliament?

Mr. Tsintsadze: The Azerbaijani side first is required to appeal so that the Georgian parliament revised the issue of recognition of the Khojaly genocide. I think that a lot depends on the activity of the Azerbaijani side. We ourselves are victims of the genocide, so surely the Georgian parliament will carefully consider this issue.  In my personal opinion, the events in Khojaly are surely the genocide.

Despite calls for a peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Armenia continues to violate the ceasefire. How do you assess the probability of resumption of hostilities in the Karabakh conflict zone?
 
Mr. Tsintsadze: Surely, such a threat exists. I think that the Azerbaijani side is not going to endlessly pull this bagpipe. But, a lot depends on the Russian factor here, and I think that after March 4 new Russian president will closely engage in this process, as President Medvedev’s efforts, in my opinion, did not bear fruits.
 
Although, now it will be difficult to come to a common denominator so that the resolution satisfied both Baku and Yerevan. Yerevan will not make concessions without outside interference, and strong diplomatic pressure.
 
Resumption of the hostilities can not be excluded, but it is unlikely at this stage of events.
 
What you can say about the policy pursued by Yerevan in the South Caucasus? Many experts believe Armenia’s position in the region gets worse with each passing day ...

Mr. Tsintsadze: I believe one of the main tasks of any government is to build good neighborly relations with all neighbors. Armenia is in conflict with Azerbaijan, and has not so very friendly relations with Georgia. But, on the other hand, there seems no serious conflict between Tbilisi and Yerevan, but one can see anti-Georgian statements in the Armenian press.

All this hysteria against Georgia is not conducive to establishing trust between nations. And if the peoples of neighboring countries lack good-neighborly relations, then it automatically casts a shadow to official relations.

How could the aggravation of the situation around the Iranian issue affect its neighbors?

Mr. Tsintsadze: I think that if war starts in Iran, then all its neighbors will be losers. In addition, Iran itself will not win anything, and  the opposite side also will not benefit from it. I am inclined to hope that the dynamics of forcing the situation around the Iranian nuclear problem somehow goes down. A lull is being observed now in this regard, so I think that the sides will be able to come to any agreement at this stage.