Beginning a dialogue between the Azerbaijani and Armenian communities of Nagorno-Karabakh would be helpful, director of the Center for Political Innovation and Technology, a political scientist Mubariz Ahmedoglu told.
"If the dialogue of the Armenian and Azerbaijani communities of Nagorno-Karabakh would be held in the North Caucasus, it would greatly contribute to stabilizing the ethno-psychological situation in the region. This step corresponds with the philosophy and interests of long negotiations," said Ahmedoglu.
According to Ahmedoglu, Armenian president Serj Sargsyan's preference to trilateral (Russian Federation, Azerbaijan and Armenia) format at the St. Petersburg meeting comes from the essence of Armenia's policy.
"Conflict is the key and alternative source of income for the Armenians. Azerbaijan's main source of income is the natural resources and the transit potential, Georgia - mainly transit potential, however, Armenia has not any of these. Finance and other resources earned by the collapse of the USSR have depleted, country's external debt exceeds the state budget by 2-5 times. In order to obtain financial benefits and other resources, Armenia needs a new, more large-scale conflict," said Ahmedoglu.
According to the political scientist, creating a regional conflict on the basis of the Nagorno-Karabakh is the principal for the Armenians.
"When Russia, the United States and the European Union are together, Armenia can not afford to lie. To create a conflict-prone situation, Armenia should work with the United States and Russia separately. The regional situation of Tehran also increases the maneuvering of Armenia. Mostly Russia loses, but Armenia gains. This is an old plan of Armenians," said Ahmedoglu.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts.
Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France, and the U.S. - are currently holding the peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh region and the occupied territories.
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