Russian political scientist Alexander Khramchikhin is pessimistic with respect to achieving a resolution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Commenting—at the request of Armenian News-NEWS.am—on the “territories in exchange for status” plan which Ambassador James Warlick, US Co-Chair of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group, spoke about recently, Khramchikhin expressed a view that this “status” apparently means the recognition of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR/Artsakh), in exchange for which, the territories under the control of Stepanakert need to be turned over to Azerbaijan.

“Also another status certainly may be understood under the term ‘status,’” added the political scientist. “But this needs to be clarified from the maker of the statement.”

To the remark that this plan runs contrary to the position of Nagorno-Karabakh, Khramchikhin noted that he does not consider the combination of incompatible approaches to be possible.

And when asked, as a clarification, whether, in that case, we should not expect any progress in the settlement of this conflict in the coming decade, Alexander Khramchikhin responded: “I think not.”