Although Russia has certain potential for broking an agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia over Nagorno Karabakh, its role as mediator is not unlimited, according to Sabine Freizer, Director of Europe Program at the International Crisis Group (ICG).
“Although Russia stands a good chance to speed up the settlement process, it’s Armenia and Azerbaijan who can accept basic principles and reach an agreement,” Trend News quoted Ms. Freizer as saying.
According to her, it is highly encouraging that Turkey wants to bring peace and stability to the South Caucasus and is trying to help resolve the Nagorno Karabakh conflict but it first of all needs to understand that Russia does not hold the key to the problem.
“Initiating the Maindorf Declaration in November 2008, the Russian leadership was successful in getting a signature from the Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents, but this did not change anything on the ground or get the sides closer to a comprehensive agreement,” she said.
With regard to Madrid Principles, Ms. Freizer said “they cannot be forced upon Armenia and Azerbaijan by Russia or the US”.
“The progress in the Karabakh issue is extremely important for Turkey with a view to promises it made to Azerbaijan. Yet it is also obliged to open the border with Armenia, as stipulated in the Protocols signed last October. If the Turkish parliament doesn’t ratify the protocols in the coming months, Ankara’s role as a major regional actor will be undermined,” she concluded.
Maindorf Declaration is an agreement signed by Presidents of Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Armenia and Russian Federation on November 2, 2008 in Maindorf (outskirts of Moscow).
Under the document, the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan took commitment “to contribute to enhancing the situation in South Caucasus and ensuring peace, stability and security via political settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict based on the principles and norms of international law and decisions and documents deriving thereof.”
Parties reiterated the significant role of continuing Minsk Group’s mediatory efforts in the frameworks of Madrid Document (dated Nov. 29, 2007).
They also agreed that “peaceful conflict settlement should be accompanied by legally binding international guarantees.”
The Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR) is a de facto independent republic located in the South Caucasus, bordering by Azerbaijan to the north and east, Iran to the south, and Armenia to the west.
After the Soviet Union established control over the area, in 1923 it formed the Nagorno Karabakh Autonomous Oblast (NKAO) within the Azerbaijan SSR. In the final years of the Soviet Union, Azerbaijan launched an ethnic cleansing which resulted in the Karabakh War that was fought from 1991 to 1994.
Since the ceasefire in 1994, most of Nagorno Karabakh and several regions of Azerbaijan around it (the security zone) remain under the control of Nagorno Karabakh defense army.
Armenia and Azerbaijan have since been holding peace talks mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group.
