Political scientist: 2013 will be a test year in Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resolution

Azerbaijan, Baku, June 29 / Trend, E.Tariverdiyeva / 2013 will be a test year in the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, chief editor of the Caucasus Bulletin news and analytical agency, deputy dean of the History Department of Moscow State University and member of the Trend Expert Council, political analyst, Alexei Vlasov believes. "Recent developments on the contact line of Azerbaijani and Armenian troops show that the world faces a threat," he said in Baku at a press conference on the topic 'Azerbaijani-Russian cooperation on the modern stage and current situation in the region'. He said Russia is one of the most important mediators in the resolution of the conflict, but Baku and Yerevan should demonstrate their political will. Besides Russia, the OSCE Minsk Group includes other states, but no one achieved any progress, although the Russian president demonstrated political will and wasted time, Vlasov said. "U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also did not make any distinct strategic proposal to address the conflict during her recent visit to the region and the mediators have problems," he added. In turn, director general of the Russian Centre for Political Situation Sergei Mikheyev believes that "today Russia cannot influence the situation and that time has been lost". "Baku and Yerevan have the key to solve the problem," he said at the press conference. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 per cent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France and the U.S. - are currently holding peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions. Do you have any feedback? Contact our journalist at agency@trend.az