Moscow declaration on Karabakh aimed to strengthen Russia’s positions in Caucasus

08.11.2008

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The main goal of the Moscow declaration on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict is to strengthen Russia’s positions in the Caucasus, Kiro Manoyan, ARF Dashnaktsutyun Bureau’s Hay Dat and Political Affairs Office Director, told a news conference today.

The declaration has both positive and negative features and proceeds from the interests of certain forces, according to him.

“The most negative fact is the absence of an NKR representative’s signature on the document. The necessity of continuation of talks on the basis of the OSCE MG Madrid principles also arouses concern, since these principles envisage surrender of the liberated territories,” he said.

“Positive factors are affirmation of peaceful talks as the only way to resolve the conflict and no mention of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity. Besides, the declaration states that talks will be continued in the framework of the OSCE MG and thus excludes interference of other forces into the process,” he said, adding that Turkey’s attempts to join negotiations can jeopardize their success.

“The Karabakh problem will be resolved in case all parties to conflict sign a peaceful agreement which will be implemented with the help of appropriate mechanisms,” Mr. Manoyan resumed.

Forgetting the fact that the return of territories outside of Karabakh were always meant to be returned — something stipulated in the 1994 cease fire protocol — Manoyan is wrong about Turkey.

Turkey is a member of the OSCE Minsk Group. France, Russia and the U.S. are simply the co-chairs.

The Minsk Group is headed by a Co-Chairmanship consisting of France, Russia and the United States. Furthermore, the Minsk Group also includes the following participating States: Belarus, Germany, Italy, Portugal, the Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, Turkey as well as Armenia and Azerbaijan.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OSCE_Minsk_Group