Interview with Rafał Kocot, Security Forum of the Southern Caucasus (Poland).
Q: What is the current state of the Karabakh settlement and what can be done to promote the negotiating process?
A: I think this is not so much an issue between Azerbaijan and Armenia, as an issue for the European Union, Russia and Turkey. I think the Europeanization of this conflict would be good for a settlement.
Q: Could you expand on that?
A: The greater part of the European community is simply unaware of the problem. The conflict in the Balkans was at the centre of Europe, which is why Europe was concerned with the war there, but only a few people know about Karabakh and the war between Azerbaijan and Armenia. In this sense, the resolution of the conflict depends on the involvement of the European Union, as well as the main regional players - Russia and Turkey - in the resolution process, rather than the parties.
Q: Can the Kosovo precedent influence the resolution of the Karabakh conflict?
A: The Kosovo problem is a big issue for modern Serbia. Kosovo was part of Serbia in the recent past, but was declared independent. At the same time, Kosovo’s separation made Serbia closer to the European Union. I want to say that whoever loses in one issue may win in another.
Q: Russia’s interest in the resolution of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict is clear, Russia is close to the conflict area. What is the interest of the United States, another mediator of a solution?
A: I think this is a matter of pipelines. And this circumstance is dictated by the US interest in the region.
The United States currently faces many problems throughout the world. Today Americans are more concerned with the resolution of the situation in Afghanistan and Iraq. The resolution of the Karabakh conflict is not among the top priorities for Washington.
Leyla Tagiyeva
News.Az
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