Azerbaijan may attempt an average-level escalation on contact line: Sergey Minasyan
Reflecting to the failed sabotage attempt by the adversary political scientist Sergey Minasyan said that everything edifies that we deal with Azerbaijani special unit serviceman.
On February 1 the Azerbaijani forces made an attempt of sabotage infiltration for reconnaissance proposes in the northern (Talish) direction, which was prevented. As a result of the anti-sabotage measures, the Armenian border guards managed to capture Azerbaijani serviceman Elnur Hussein Zade, born in 1995 in Barda city of Azerbaijan.
According to Sergey Minasyan the contradicting information provided by Azerbaijani Defence Ministry creates a more ridiculous situation. The expert stated that preventive measures of recent sabotage attempts show that rather serious work was implemented on the contact line linked to both facilities and equipment, and military service.
“It also shows that the Azerbaijani side attempted and will attempt to keep permanent tension on the contact line both as a political and psychological means. However, these attempts once again point at the necessity of installation of trust mechanisms, in which the Armenian side and MG Co-Chairs attempt to record active progress. I consider, this is also a good opportunity that the Minsk Group and the Armenian side were more active and urged Azerbaijan to implement agreements reached in Vienna and St. Petersburg,” he said.
According to S.Minasyan these developments and existent domestic policy situation in two countries create the same situation prior to April, and according to him, it may also become a reason that Azerbaijan made a new escalation attempt on the contact line.
To the question on account of the reflection to previous sabotage attempt what the answer of MG Co-Chairs will be, he said, “The circumstance, that we have captured Azerbaijani special unit serviceman, is a good opportunity for MG Co-Chairs as well to have tougher position and hint the Azerbaijani side that a progress was recorded regarding trust mechanisms. In different platforms Azerbaijan attempts to create obstacles not only for the MG, but generally for the activity of OSCE. Azerbaijan is in a rather vulnerable situation on OSCE platforms, and this opportunity only provides the opportunity to show clear positions toward Azerbaijan.”
By Razmik Martirosyan
