Azerbaijan may use EEU membership in NK conflict: S.Tarasov

“Azerbaijan attempts to neutralize the process of recognition of Artsakh from the West,” Russian political analyst Stanislav Tarasov told 168.am, reflecting to OSCE MG Co-Chairs’ regional visit.

Visit of the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group (Ambassadors Igor Popov of the Russian Federation, James Warlick of the United States of America, and Pierre Andrieu of France), together with the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk, to the region—Baku, Stepanakert and Yerevan, was held from 23 to 25 October 2016. They issued a statement, which particularly reads, “The sides confirmed that the situation on the ground remains relatively calm.  The Co-Chairs underscored that respect for the ceasefire provides a critical foundation for ongoing negotiations, and stressed the importance of fully implementing decisions taken in Vienna and St. Petersburg. ‪The Co-Chairs also discussed current working proposals to advance substantive negotiations towards a lasting peace. The Presidents each expressed their views on how to move the settlement process forward.

The Presidents also reaffirmed their agreement to expand the Office of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, and operational details are still being discussed.”

Stanislav Tarasov stated that it became clear from the press conference of the U.S. Co-Chair James Warlick, that there is no any clarity after this visit as well, which will be followed by a meeting with Ministers months later.

“Negotiations have been launched for such a long period behind the closed doors, that it’s interesting to follow the statements, which extort positions of the sides. For instance, statement by Azerbaijani president on Karabakh’s autonomous status, in case, when a referendum was held in Karabakh, it’s not a negotiation party. Review of principles is being touched upon.

In this process statements by Aliyev are interesting, including the point that he didn’t exclude Azerbaijan’s membership to EEU. Probably this may become a proposal of concluding a deal with Moscow from Baku. Thus, it’ll be noteworthy what assessment will Yerevan, Moscow and Stepanakert give. Azerbaijan still has hopes with Russia, that the latter will attempt to settle the conflict alone in favor of Azerbaijan, which Russian diplomacy has repeatedly showed that it doesn’t want to do,” Stanislav Tarasov said.

According to the latter, Azerbaijan perfectly realizes that the process of Artsakh’s independence is being developed, which threatens Azerbaijani settlement plans, and in particular, the perspective of Karabakh’s autonomous status.

“Thus, it’s clear that Azerbaijan should attempt to neutralize Karabakh’s this perspective, although Madrid Principles, as Warlick warned in Yerevan, anticipate something quite different. Warlick’s remark was rather noteworthy, that the issue set forward by Azerbaijani president isn’t on the negotiation table,” Tarasov said.

By Araks Martirosyan