NEWS.am interviewed Masis Mailyan, Chairman of the Public Council for Foreign Policy and Security, Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR).

Q.: Last year, Azerbaijan’s militant rhetoric was rapidly gaining strength. Last year saw a number of top-level meetings, Armenian-Azerbaijani-Russian presidential meetings, as well as meetings of the co-chairing countries, which, however, failed to produce any appreciable results. What development can be expected in the negotiation process this year?

If the negotiations continue on the basis of Madrid principles, no positive developments should be expected. Changes are possible provided the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs reject the obsolete methods of settling the Azerbaijani-Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and prepare new proposals on the basis of present-day international legal norms, particularly the landmark decision of the International Court of Justice, which confirmed the legality of self-proclamation of Kosovo.

Q.: What is the probability of Nagorno-Karabakh getting involved in the negotiation process this year?

 Such a probability does exist in case Armenia refuses to discuss with Azerbaijan and the mediators the key settlement issues that may fall within the NKR authorities’ terms of reference. Yerevan and Stepanakert are supposed to agree on the range of issues in question.

Also, the international mediators must prove they are sincere when they the conflict is impossible to settle without Nagorno-Karabakh’s participation.

Q.: What is the probability of military operations in the region?

 A few years such a probability was lower. Azerbaijan’s further militarization may disturb the balance of forces, which has actually been the pivot of the ceasefire for many years. Peace in the region is a requirement for further dialogue and must be the international actors’ major task in 2011.

On the one hand, Armenia and NKR have top maintain the military balance. On the other hand, they have to take active politico-diplomatic steps to prevent a military scenario. Kosovo, Abkhazia and South Ossetia show international recognition to be an effective modern mechanism of ensuring security in conflict zones.

Q.: Do you think official Baku will be developing its militant rhetoric. If so, what will be the response by international agencies and mediator-countries?

Since the international mediators do not specify the addressee of their response, the dangerous tendency may continue growing.