The Armenian parties to the Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) conflict have a potential chance to restrain Azerbaijan, and change the logic of the peace talks. 

Armenian political analyst Masis Mayilyan wrote about the aforesaid in The Analyticon periodical. 

“The possible signing of an agreement on a strategic union and mutual security between the RA [i.e. the Republic of Armenia] and the NKR [i.e. the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic], the NKR’s de jure recognition by the RA, the active and consistent work towards NKR’s recognition, and other steps can positively change the status quo, in favor of greater regional stability,” Mayilyan wrote, in particular.

In his view, the war in early April—and which Azerbaijan had unleashed against Artsakh—has yet again confirmed the argument that the NKR’s recognition can become an additional political and diplomatic mechanism for ensuring its security, and preventing a regional war.

As per the analyst, the events that occurred in 2016, especially the war in April, have further complicated the task of the international mediators.

Masis Mayilyan also recalled that the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group co-chairmanship will have a renewed staff in 2017.