“Germany should be able to Bring Armenia and Azerbaijan to the Negotiation Table”
“Germany should attempt to bring the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan to the negotiation table,” Alexander Rahr, German analyst told 168.am, touching upon the situation on NK conflict zone—the four-day war and follow-ups.
According to the German analyst NK conflict hasn’t been settled throughout last 20 and more years, as discordances around certain principles of international law still continue, some of them consider the principle of self-determination of utmost importance, and others—territorial integrity. However, in this conflict both principles are available, and entered into a contrast. Alexander Rahr also stated, he considers the West has taken the wrong way in Karabakh, which means, unleashed military operations in NK were also an implication of wrong policy by Europe. Accordingly, in his opinion, if not these discordances, Russia and the West would have come to an agreement on the scenario of NK conflict settlement. Thus, he considers it refers not only Karabakh, the accord would have positive implication in the whole post-Soviet and OSCE space.
“As there is no settlement, each side has its own disposition, the situation would better be frozen, rather than shifted to a hot stage. Although I insist, that regional conflicts are hazardous even at a frozen condition, but there is no way out, and it’s completely in line with the logic of Russia-led policy” Alexander Rahr said.
In his conviction, OSCE MG Co-chairs and their failure also have their part in escalation of recent tension. “A desperate situation has been created, as they fail to provide neither agreement between the sides, nor cooperation between mediators. This has led the situation to a deadlock,” Rahr said.
To the question what exit of settlement he observed in likewise situation, Rahr replied, that Germany is an OSCE MG Co-chair and will support the process by certain initiative till the end of the year, otherwise OSCE will finally fade away. In his words, that initiative may be implemented in near future by the visit of Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev to Germany in near future, where serious talks will be launched: especially what to do, when Aliyev-Sargsyan meeting, planned in Washington, however, failed.
In Rahr’s conviction, Germany should exert efforts to lead the presidents to the negotiation table; this should be its immediate initiative, towards which Germany already works. However, he stated that there are concerns in Germany, if the USA isn’t able to do that, maybe Germany will also fail, thus again Russia’s support will be needed, as the latter succeeded as a result of levers it has in these countries.
“The EU and Western structures don’t possess levers regarding this issue, as there are no linking structures, like the Ukraine by the Association Agreement, Moldova and etc., in this case OSCE should be strengthened and attempt should be made to launch some process within it. On the level of MFA, Germany speaks of Meseberg process. We need to work in this direction,” Rahr said.
Note, Russia-Germany negotiations in June 2010 around Transnistria conflict in Meseberg acquired the name of Meseberg Process. By saying start of that process, the German analyst means close cooperation of Russia with the EU regarding Karabakh issue. Note also, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, German MFA, stated that he believes in Russia’s potential to stabilize the situation in Nagorno Karabakh. He stated that Russia is able to stabilize the situation by using its ties with Azerbaijan.
By Araks Martirosyan
