Karabakh Conflict Resolution and What’s Actually Happening are Two Different Concepts: Iskandaryan

For Armenia, the political year began on Jan. 12 and ended on Dec. 4, Caucasus Institute Alexander Iskandaryan told journalists in Yerevan today, then explained by saying he was referring to the RA Constitutional Court’s decision on the Armenia-Turkey Protocols. “In the freezing of the process aimed at recovering Armenia-Turkey relations, it put forth the beginning of a new reality.”

“The year ended on Dec. 4, taking into consideration the Astana talks. That which happened in Astana could’ve been predicted. It was proof of the end of the political year,” he said.

Recall that the meeting between the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan in Astana, Kazakhstan, during the OSCE Summit in the first days of December didn’t take place. Further, it can be said that no progress was made on the Nagorno-Karabakh peace talks.

According to Iskandaryan, the last one-and-a-half years passed under the mark of the Armenia-Turkey rapprochement process, on which both external and internal forces pinned great hopes. 

“The expectations didn’t come true, the process is frozen and that has affected the political reality, in particular, in Azerbaijan,” he said, referring to bellicose statements from Azerbaijan’s leader. All this, according to the analyst, is intended to pressure Armenia, so that it makes symbolic concessions in the Nagorno-Karabakh issue. 

“The Karabakh issue, in light of the settlement of the conflict, and that which is happening around Karabakh are two different concepts. I am referring to such a settlement process that has its logic which doesn’t coincide with the reality that currently exists in Karabakh.”

Iskandaryan considers Russia’s efforts in the conflict an attempt aimed at stressing its position, maintaining the status-quo and securing the ongoing activities of the Minsk Group.

“In the Karabakh format, we remain where we have been. Karabakh is that which it was: no radical change took place. Armenia maintains its participation in the Minsk Group and wishes to subsequently continue the same way,” he concluded.