Today, the negotiation process is unable to achieve a final solution to Karabakh conflict. It will be possible only if one of the conflicting parties is pressurized, expert Sergey Minasyan told a press conference.

According to him, military solution to the conflict is unlikely, as the current status quo is in the interests of all countries, including Turkey. Minasyan stressed firstly it is in the interest of the Armenian side. This is the reason the Armenian side does not make adequate assessments to Azerbaijan’s belligerence not to provoke war and maintain the status quo. The expert emphasized all the threats by Azerbaijan and Turkey are unsubstantiated, as these countries can only economically pressurize Armenia in terms of blockade.

Meanwhile, Minasyan noted no critical breakthrough will be achieved in the Karabakh peace process till OSCE Summit in Astana. “The mediators may submit a creative proposal and a framework document on Karabkh may be adopted,” he said.  The expert underscored recently the most significance progress in the peace process has been the signing of Armenia-Russia agreement on prolongation of Russian military base in Armenia and Obama-Aliyev meeting.

As for the OSCE field assessment mission, Miansyan said it was aimed at simulating intensification of the negotiation process. Meanwhile, he did not rule out conduction of such an assessment mission in the Armenian regions occupied by Azerbaijan. Referring to the OSCE MG Co-Chairs’ recent statement, considering the Armenia-controlled territories “occupied”, Minasyan stressed the term ‘occupied’ does not mean  “captured or seized” in this case. As to the word Khankendi mentioned with Stepanakert, the mediators wish to show the talks are in Azerbaijan’s interests as well, the expert noted. Minasyan also considered unlikely the deployment of peacekeepers in the Karabakh conflict zone.