Kazakhstan’s seeking a more active role in the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process as OSCE chairing state can by no means be viewed as Astana’s intention to replace the OSCE Minsk Group formed to deal with the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the former Armenian Ambassador to Syria, orientalist David Hovhannisyan told NEWS.am.

“The Kazakh Foreign Minister may have made a statement on Astana’s contribution to the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in the context of Kazakhstan’s role in establishing the cease-fire in the conflict zone, which, however, does not at all mean that Kazakhstan can replace the OSCE Minsk Group in the negotiation process,” Hovhannisyan said.

The expert Alexander Manasyan, in turn, stated that the success of Kazakhstan’s mission depends on Astana’s balanced attitude to the conflicting parties. “Kazakhstan is stating now that it is well informed on the essence of the conflict, but Astana must prove it. If, during this period, Kazakhstan has not only been kept track of the negotiations, but has also elaborated balanced and effective proposals for the settlement, its claims on mediation may be crowned with success. But if Kazakhstan states it is well informed of the essence of the conflict, but it is really misinformed, Astana’s mission is doomed to failure,” the expert said.

NEWS.am reminds the readers that at a recent news conference in Yerevan, OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Kazakh Foreign Minister Kanat Saudabayev stated that Kazakhstan is well informed of the Nagorno-Karabakh problem and is keeping track of the negotiations. “We intend to give possible impetus to the resolution of the problem. But the key is in the conflicting parties hands. We are cautiously optimistic about Nagorno-Karabakh peace process,” Saudabayev said.

T.P.