News.Az interviews Azerbaijani political scientist Rasim Musabeyov.
What can you say about the current state of the negotiation process on the Karabakh conflict settlement?
I can say that the negotiations are intensive but without any visible progress.
What is the reason for the recent intensification in shuttle diplomacy by the mediators from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's Minsk Group?
This was caused by the absence of results and a willingness to promote the process. Four years of work are at stake. This negotiations process is the longest and the most productive in terms of meetings, various discussions and visits. The issue is not limited only to the co-chairs of the Minsk Group. The process has also involved the presidents of the mediating states who in their special statements have supported the intention to reach agreement on the basis of the Madrid proposals.
Is a breakthrough in the conflict settlement by the end of the year realistic?
Progress by the end of the year does not seem realistic to me because I think little time is left. The presidents are to meet in November but I do not think that just one issue is left that can be settled during the meeting. It is obvious that the process is at the finishing line. The issue cannot be protracted for long. In fact, I think if no progress is made in the coming three to six months, it will be difficult to keep the process working.
Despite the optimistic statements by the mediators and their frequent visits, the conflict parties still fail to agree on the main issue - the status of the Nagorno-Karabakh region. What is your view of this?
It is not surprising that the sides cannot agree on the status of this region for the simple reason that Armenia is demanding the inclusion in the agreement of a mechanism leading to Nagorno-Karabakh's secession from Azerbaijan, while Azerbaijan cannot agree to that and I do not think anyone can make Azerbaijan do so.
What is the way out of this deadlocked situation?
The way out is for the issue to be left open. The issue can find its solution within the framework of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan as the internal self-determination of Nagorno-Karabakh, but taking the Azerbaijani community of this region into account too, since their will is no less significant than the will of the Armenian community.
Aliyah Fridman
News.Az