March 12, 2008 - 17:18 AMT
Karabakh not number one priority for international community
Karabakh is not a number one priority for the international community, which is concerned over the situation in Middle East, Afghanistan, Kosovo and other hot spots, said Thomas de Waal, the Institute for War and Peace Reporting IWPR Caucasus Editor.

"I can't affirm that the U.S. and Russia possess resources to resolve the conflict. Of course, Western states fear that oil pipelines might be damaged. The Baku-Ceyhan extends 15 km from the frontline. The conflict is also a menace to regional powers - Iran, Turkey and Russia. No one wants resumption of war," he said.

"On the other hand, West is deeply concerned over the situation in Middle East, Afghanistan, Kosovo. I can assure that western countries have no human or other resources to ensure Karabakh's security," he said, adding that resumption of hostilities by Azerbaijan will be a calamity.

"Armenia is preparing for it and developing its own plans. Diversions should not be ruled out. The Azeri oil market will be enveloped in panic. I do not know a war that ended as the sides wanted it to end," the British expert said, Zerkalo (Mirror) Baku-based newspaper reports.