Azerbaijan will not accept the point saying that the “final status of Nagorno-Karabakh to be determined in the future by a legally-binding expression of will” mentioned in the joint statement by the Russian, U.S. and French Presidents, Sinan Ogan, Chairman of the Turkish Center for International Relations & Strategic Analysis (TURKSAM), said in an interview with the Armenian Zhamanak newspaper.

According to him, it is one of the main issues in the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and Azerbaijan will not agree to this. Baku, in its turn, welcomes the proposal for the return of territories ‘occupied’ by the Armenian side, he noted. On the whole, Sinan Ogan does not think any radical changes in the peace process should be expected.

The expert also commented on the possible progress in the Karabakh issue in the light of Hillary Clinton’s regional visit. He noted that the Sargsyan-Aliyev meeting, statement by the OSCE MG co-chairing states, forthcoming meeting of the Armenian and Azerbaijani FMs, visits by Robert Gates and Hillary Clinton prove that unusual processes are expected in the region. However, Sinan Ogan deems that all the sides will try to do their best to avoid a breakthrough.