No doubt, most of the OSCE member-states are interested in the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process being continued and concerned over growing tension in the region, Konstantin Zatulin, Director of the CIS Institute, told NEWS.am. According to him, the OSCE Summit in Astana will not take sides, but declare for further negotiations.

“It would be great progress if the OSCE member-states, including the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs highlight the lack of any alternative to a peaceful settlement of the conflict. The sides’ positions are greatly different, and no breakthrough should be expected. However, since Azerbaijan makes regular statements it accepts the generally known settlement principles but reserves the right to resolve the conflict in a different way, which would be acceptable to it, it would be a stride,” Zatulin said. “Such a statement on the present situation would be a most important step,” he said.

The conflict must be settled in conformity with international law. The peace process has no alternative, and any attempts to undermine the peace process must be rejected. “Azerbaijan regularly claims it is not guilty of the incidents on the line of contact. If so why do not they accept this principle?” asked the expert.

“With its militant rhetoric, Azerbaijan is pursuing flag-waving. However, it is a most dangerous policy, which will lead to a stalemate. The authors of this ideology are most likely to fail to control the situation. As a result, they will bring large-scale hostilities upon their own heads,” Zatulin said.

In this context, he pointed out the importance of any tactical agreements. “I wish for the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. I proposed this solution, and Azerbaijan might think over the recent past, come to realize a lot and make a decision: recognizing Nagorno-Karabakh’s independence, get their regions back and agree on a corridor with Armenia.

“The territorial integrity Azerbaijan is speaking of now was not a fact when the USSR collapsed. This territory was not under Azerbaijan’s control when it was recognized,” Zatulin said.