October 29, 2007 - 17:20 AMT
Bellicose blinkers keep Baku from understanding benefit of peaceful resolution
"Baku leaders' systematic threats to use force have become the most serious obstacle for liberation of the territories," said Vladimir Kazimirov, the Russian mediator on Nagorno Karabakh in 1992-1996.
In his opinion, this bravado aims at raising the tonus of the internal policy. "However, Baku's yearning to frighten Armenia is a bounty for those who stand against return of territories. Yerevan and Stepanakert think that surrender of a region will violate the fortification system, and they will take a move only in case of firm belief that hostilities will not be resumed," he said.
"Bellicose blinkers keep Baku from understanding the benefit of a peaceful resolution, which will allow to spend more funds for development of the country and the population's welfare. Return of regions without shots would appear as Azerbaijan's success and would be welcomed by the international community. Of course, it would not determine the NK status, but would relieve the atmosphere, thus opening a way for further compromise," Vladimir Kazimirov wrote in an article "Is there is a wayout of Karabakh deadlock?" published by Russia in Global Politics magazine.