Question: Can the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict be solved in 2009? Answer: The key to the solution of the conflict lies with the leaders and peoples of Azerbaijan and Armenia. It is primarily Azeris and Armenians, including those from Nagorno-Karabakh, who need to find a mutually acceptable compromise solution. This solution should be achieved through peaceful negotiations and with due consideration to the rights and underlying interests of all major stakeholders in the conflict, so as to ensure a stable, sustainable and just peace.
The external players, be it OSCE Minsk Group or individual states, may only play a secondary role in shaping the dynamics of the conflict and helping the parties to come to peace. We cannot fully exclude the possibility of signing of a peace agreement in 2009. However, even if Armenia and Azerbaijan sign a peace agreement, it will take years for Azeris and Armenians to build trust and learn to peacefully coexist in Nagorno-Karabakh and elsewhere. So, solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is a long-term process. We cannot exclude the possibility of a significant progress towards peace in 2009. Both Armenia and Azerbaijan continue talks using Minsk Group
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