Carnegie Fund expert Tomas De Waal is sure that the statement of Presidents Medvedev, Obama and Sarkozy from the G8 summit Deauville on the Karabakh conflict is the most serious international declaration on the conflict for many year.
“The statement made on May 26 by the three heads of state of the mediating powers, makes it clear that a moment of truth is approaching. At Kazan in late June, President Dmitry Medvedev, backed by the French and U.S. mediators, will make a strong push to have Presidents Aliev and Sargsyan finally cut a deal on the Document on Basic Principles that they have been discussing for more than five years now,” wrote De Waal in his article published in the National Interest.
Russia, the United States and the EU have worked together in the negotiation process, but, given all their diverse interests in the Caucasus, it will be tough to construct a joint post conflict settlement for Karabakh, he concluded.
“As the Kazan meeting approaches, the stakes are raised for both peace and war in the Caucasus,” stresses De Waal.
As Armenian News-NEWS.am reported earlier, Presidents of Russia, France and USA issued a joint statement on Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resolution within the framework of G8 Summit on May 26.
Co-chair leaders call upon the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan to demonstrate their political will by finalizing the Basic Principles during their upcoming summit in June.
“We reiterate that only a negotiated settlement can lead to peace, stability, and reconciliation, opening opportunities for regional development and cooperation. The use of force created the current situation of confrontation and instability. Further delay would only call into question the commitment of the sides to reach an agreement. Once an agreement has been reached, we stand ready to witness the formal acceptance of these Principles, to assist in the drafting of the peace agreement, and then to support its implementation with our international partners,” reads the statement.
The presidents of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia will meet in June in Kazan.
