Interview with Dr. Max Georg Meier, regional director of Hanns Seidel Foundation in Central Asia.
Q: Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has recently criticized the world community representatives unfamiliar with the Karabakh conflict who often make untimely statements on this problem. Do you think the Karabakh conflict is well known in the world and in Europe, in particular?
A: I agree that the world community is not well familiar with the details of this problem. I think there were more discussions around this issue in the past. However, now the Karabakh conflict has been distanced from the priorities agenda especially in Europe under the influence of different conflicts throughout the world. This is my opinion based on observations of the developments in the past 2-3 years.
Q: How do you assess the prospects of the soonest resolution of the Karabakh conflict?
A: The OSCE Minsk Group is moving too slowly in its activity and I do not know why. It is not ruled out that the current process between Turkey and Armenia will create a new dynamics for the Karabakh conflict settlement. However, I think this country is not among priorities for the western countries.
Q: Meanwhile, Europe is stating importance of energy sources of Azerbaijan. Are Europeans not interested in stable region of energy supplies?
A: Certainly, they are. The stability of energy supplies meets EU interests. The resolution of the Karabakh conflict will be useful for all parties. If Europe has taken the same efforts for the resolution of the Karabakh conflict as it did in Kosovo, the situation would have been more positive than it is know. Favorable opportunities regularly appear in the resolution of any conflicts and it is necessary to catch the moment to settle the problem. If one misses the chance, he will have to wait for an undefinite period. The same can be said about Germany’s experience that has faced the issue of reintegration of the Western and Eastern parts of the country. An opportunity appeared in the process and the German leadership could use it. There is such a chance in every conflict but I do not see any significant achievement in the resolution of the Karabakh conflict.
Q: You have mentioned Kosovo whose independence was recognized by several countries. Is there a chance for recognition of Karabakh, for which Armenians are striving?
A: No, I don’t think so. I do not think that this will happen. First of all, it is diplomatically impossible, considering the decisions made by the UN, Council of Europe and other organizations on UN. But the process of resolution should be intensified though, unfortunately, things are not changing.
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