Armenian opposition should stand for Nagorno-Karabakh conflict's resolution

By Sara Rajabova

Russian political scientist believes that the Armenian opposition should favor the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to improve Yerevan’s relations with Baku and Ankara.

“Armenian opposition should stand for settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the return of Karabakh to Azerbaijan in exchange for improved political and economic relations with Azerbaijan and Turkey,” Dmitriy Verkhoturov said in an interview with Day.Az website.

He noted that this would be a substantial relief for Armenia itself, both in terms of economic development and for ending the country’s political isolation.

As a result of the lasting policy of aggression against Azerbaijan and baseless claims against Turkey, Yerevan is sidelined from major regional projects that are being initiated and realized by Baku and Ankara.

Armenia occupied over 20 percent of Azerbaijan's internationally recognized territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and its seven adjacent regions, after laying territorial claims against its South Caucasus neighbor that caused a brutal war in the early 1990s.

A lengthy war displaced over one million Azerbaijanis, who became refugees and IDPs and were forced to live in refugee camps, tents, and under harsh conditions.

As a result of Armenia’s military aggression, over 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed, more than 4,000 were reported missing, nearly 100,000 were injured, and 50,000 were disabled.

Long-standing efforts by U.S, Russian and French mediators have been largely fruitless so far. Armenia continues the occupation in defiance of four UN Security Council resolutions calling for immediate and unconditional withdrawal.

Turkey also cut diplomatic ties and closed its border with Armenia after the country invaded Azerbaijan's territories.

Though Armenia maintains relations with Iran and Georgia, it has, however, lost access to the East and West as a direct result of its policy of aggression towards Azerbaijan and Turkey.

Yerevan continues its policy of occupation and still clings to an unconstructive position in the peace talks, despite it being on the verge of economic collapse.

Economic indicators show that Armenia’s economy is deteriorating day by day, with a high rate of poverty, increasing unemployment, and a declining budget.

The situation in Armenia has further worsened with an economic downturn in its “big brother” Russia. Armenia's economy is strongly tied to that of Russia, and thus sanctions against Russia have an indirect impact on the country.

Taking into account this fact, the only acceptable choice for Armenia to alleviate its economic crisis and political isolation is complete withdrawal from all of the occupied Azerbaijani territories.

If Armenia holds a more constructive position in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict negotiation process, it can lead to an end of the lasting enmity between the sides and in turn foster prosperity and security in the region.

Verkhoturov claimed that the conflict can be resolved only by bilateral Armenia-Azerbaijan dialogue, based on the principles of positive neighborly relations and mutual forgiveness.

“The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in its current form has reached an impasse and it is unlikely will move off somewhere. The U.S, like the EU, do not show much interest in this problem. In the meantime, Russia is in favor of absence of war in the region,” the expert said.

/By Trend/