Not having a position on the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and a model for settlement is dangerous and means that Armenia will hear a bad proposal from the mediators. This is what second President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan told analysts during a meeting devoted to the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and posted on Kocharyan’s official YouTube channel.
“The negotiations will continue. The question is whether they will be effective or not. The last statement was about substantive negotiations. This was what Azerbaijan always demanded. There is something troubling since substantive is a matter of content and territories. There will be negotiations, but I don’t think the sides will reach an agreement. I don’t know if there will be pressure or not. The mandate of the OSCE Minsk Group implies persuading the sides to finally settle the conflict, not impose a settlement.
In essence, Armenia doesn’t have a position, and the formula [a solution that will satisfy all sides] is not a position. It is a nice wish. What I don’t understand is when Karabakh says its and Armenia’s approaches are the same. Armenia doesn’t have an approach or position, and if there is no clear position, the next proposal will not be in your favor.
I view Turkey’s factor as an element for not only the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, but an overall security issue. I get the impression that Turkey’s military exercises and the country’s coarse position have always helped defend Azerbaijan, but there has never been this much willingness. Turkey is trying to counterbalance Russia to a certain extent, and this is my impression. Turkey will be the factor that Russia has to always talk to, reckon with. When Turkey entered Syria, it established its presence, and it is clear that the Syrian issue can’t be resolved without Turkey. Now the Turks are trying to do the same in the South Caucasus. If this happens, Armenia will lose, and it has to do something to go against this. However, Armenia isn’t doing anything. I even think that the government doesn’t have an analysis of what I’m saying. Turkey has shown that it is much more independent. Turkey has great ambitions, and it has always had an eye on the South Caucasus. Today, it is taking very practical and daring steps to try to establish its presence,” Kocharyan said.
