Friday, January 25 2019 14:22

ArmInfo.It seems to me that the real negotiation process on Karabakh can be only if the Artsakh side will participate in the negotiations. Director of the Institute of  Oriental Studies of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia,  turkologist, professor Ruben Safrastyan said this in an interview  with ArmInfo correspondent.

He noted that until Artsakh is not included in the negotiations,  there can be no real negotiation process, especially considering the  similar position of the head of the Armenian government, Nikol  Pashinyan.  "Based on Pashinyan's statements that the negotiation  process is not possible without Artsakh's participation, it can be  concluded that in the near future there should be no progress in the  Artsakh conflict.  The Azerbaijani government is unlikely to change  its position on the Karabakh issue in the near future, that is, he  will continue to make every effort so that Karabakh is not at the  negotiating table. In turn, I think Pashinyan will insist on the  participation of Artsakh in the negotiations, so I think I expect any  real changes or changes in the near future it is not worth it, " the  professor said.

Safrastyan, at the same time, noted that it is hardly worth  connecting special expectations from the meeting of Pashinyan with  Aliyev in Davos. "I think during the various meetings, between the  representatives of Armenia and Azerbaijan, the sides are discussing  the possibility of establishing a safer regime on the Line of  Contact, working out de-declaration measures. I think if the parties  can reach consensus on this issue, then we can assume that the  meetings were very productive." - said the expert.

Referring to the latest statement of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs  on the "need to prepare nations for peace," Safrastyan said: "The  Armenian people are ready for peace. The mediators, as a rule,  proceed from various formalities, and their appeals, as a rule, are  directed both to Azerbaijan and to Armenia, but this is not true. The  policy of Azerbaijan and Armenia is diametrically opposite.  Azerbaijan constantly makes militaristic statements and threats both  to Artsakh and to Armenia. Azerbaijan prepares people not for peace,  but for war purposeful xenophobic policy, therefore such messages  should be more targeted, "the expert concluded.