Unless neither of the parties to Karabakh conflict announces that it withdraws its representatives from the peace process and starts hostilities, the negotiations are not deadlocked, Alexander Markarov, director of the Armenian branch of the Institute of CIS States, told the journalists today. He commented on WikiLeaks publication saying that the talks are at a “dead end” and the
French government is not in a position to push the Armenians at the moment.

“The conflicting parties are not that interested in the game, but results of the peace process. The mediators are performing their functions and should have neutral role just conveying messages to the sides.  The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs are to offer the way out of the situation. Pressing the sides is not their function,” the expert noted, adding that change in parties’ positions should not be expected in the near future.

Commenting on the assertion that the peace process reached a stalemate, Markarov stressed that it was made by a French high ranking official, not the Co-Chair. He found difficult to reply whether the Armenian side will be pressurized during the talks, “The mediators should propose an acceptable way out, but not pressure on the sides.”

As NEWS.am reported earlier, according to the document classified by Political Counselor Andrew R. Young as of Feb. 22, 2010 published on WikiLeaks website, France considers the Karabakh talks “to be at a dead end.”

The document presents conversation between Assistant Secretary for International Security Affairs Alexander Vershbow and EUR Deputy Assistant Secretary Spencer Boyer with Roland Galharague, MFA A/S-equivalent for Continental Europe.

Galharague notes that that “Minsk (Minsk Group) is going nowhere fast” and “the
French government is not in a position to push the Armenians at the moment because French citizens of Armenian origin represent about 500,000 votes and French regional elections
will take place in March.”