“I am very optimistic and think that the conflict parties could reach an agreement connected with the settlement till the end of this year. The leaders of both states should assume the responsibility for the conflict settlement”, Goran Lenmarker, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s special envoy on Nagorno-Karabakh and South Caucasia said in his interview to the “Panarmenian” website, APA informs.
An opportunity for conflict solution was wasted several times, he stated. “There always exists an opportunity for regulation, but as long as we delay it, this becomes harmful for everyone, and first of all for those who live in Nagorno-Karabakh. I believe that the US Ambassador’s statement about the possibility of signing a framework agreement over solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is not wide from truth”. According to Lenmarker, the Armenian community of Nagorno-Karabakh may join the talk process at any stage. “But as you know, nowadays Armenia represents Nagorno-Karabakh’s interests in the talks. I hope that Azerbaijan and Armenia will reach an agreement, this is much important. The Presidents and the foreign ministers of both countries have met in Zurich lately. I am not aware of the details of the talks, but the meeting itself is a positive signal”.
Goran Lenmarker emphasized that the military solution to the conflict is impossible. “We witnessed what can be the results in case of the military solution in South Ossetia during the August events. So, only peaceful solution establishes the fundamentals of base principles. It means that the parties should reach an agreement respecting the fundamental principles both in Azerbaijan and Armenia. And all these processes should be carried out with the OSCE Minsk Group’s participation. Solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict will have an impact on the whole South Caucasia. This fact will be the beginning of a dialogue between the countries, and the “Eastern Partnership” program of the European Union may play a significant role in this context. The states choosing integration to Europe should continue to march along this way”. Goran Lenmarker also estimated Iran’s impact on the settlement process of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. “Any assistance aimed at the problem solution should be estimated positively. But we cannot forget that Iran itself has problems with the world community. I think if Mohammad Hatamy is elected the President in summer, changes will take place in the region. Hatamy is a more loyal politician than current President Ahmadinejad”.
APA
