YEREVAN. – There is an impression that the three South Caucasian states are looking for forces from abroad to solve their problems not even trying to find their own solutions, said former U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Evans.

Such behavior is typical for all the post-Soviet states as Moscow used to find solutions for them, he said in the course of “20 years of Independence in Armenia and in the Region” discussion.

They must learn to tackle their problems on their own, Evans stressed adding that the OSCE Minsk Group will not impose on Armenia and Azerbaijan the resolution of the Karabakh conflict. They want the sides to solve it by themselves.

In his turn Germany’s Ambassador to Armenia Hans-Jochen Schmidt considers that it would be very difficult to urge common people to make concessions on Karabakh. At the same time, being in such situation Armenia goes behind other developed states.

One of the options, Evans believes is to normalize diplomatic relations with Turkey.

“In many cases normalization of diplomatic relations is perceived as manifestation of friendship but it is wrong. Establishing the diplomatic relations means the countries can have contacts, but it is not friendship,” he said.

As an example ex-Ambassador pointed out Greece and Turkey, Russia and Japan, the countries which have unresolved territorial disputes but nevertheless have diplomatic relations due to their political interests.