In an interview with NEWS.am, Andrei Areshev, the Russian political scientist and expert for the Strategic Culture Foundation, who arrived in Karabakh as a member of the Russian observer delegation, commented on the European Parliament’s recent resolution. The resolution proposes an interim status for Nagoro-Karabakh before the final one is clarified.

Areshev believes the reason for the statements is political expediency rather than a desire to “sincerely go into the essence of the Karabakh conflict.” The main reason for the conflict is Nagorno-Karabakh’s political status and security, and it is difficult to speak of any other issues as long as the crucial ones remain unsettled. “Parliamentary elelctioons are being held in the country, and I think they are playing a stabilizing role, as the people are electing their representatives to hold a dialogue with the international community. If anyone will not recognize it, his aspiration to solve the problem by means of compromise is, to put it mildly, unserious,” he added.

As to the Madrid Principles proposed by the OSCE Minsk Group, Areshev thinks they cannot be the basis for a constructive solution to Karabakh conflict. “I think the Madrid Principles are not a sufficiently elaborated document. It contains a set of technical declarations and theoretical steps, without, however, clarifying either instruments for implementation or mechanisms of ensuring the conflicting parties’ secuity. Certain states say they accept the Madrid Principles, but I consider these statements an instrument of political influence on the opposite side in order to force it into unjustified concessions. The Armenian side stated its readiness to accept the Madrid Principles as a ‘starting point’, but they can hardly service as a basis for developing a policy and taking real steps. The principles need revising and developing in conformity with, first of all, the current regional developments,” the expert said.

European Parliament passed resolution based on the “EU Strategy for the South Caucasus” draft report by the Bulgarian MP Evgeni Kirilov.

A.G.