March 17, 2008 - 18:03 AMT
World power will themselves determine Karabakh's status
The UN GA resolution has revealed real psycho-emotional condition of GUAM member states - Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova. As a matter of fact, this was a reaction to Duma's decision on Abkhazia and South Ossetia, said Arayik Stepanyan, chairman of the Saint Petersburg Association of Political Scientists, corresponding member of the Academy of Geopolitical Studies.

"Azerbaijan decided to pass ahead to prevent recognition of Nagorno Karabakh's independence. All GUAM member states can lose a part of their territory," he said.

According to Stepanyan, territorial issues are not resolved by states like GUAM. "Re-division is the prerogative of world powers, which will never let small countries struggling for their territorial integrity to act independently. Russia and U.S. will themselves agree on the status of Nagorno Karabakh," the expert said, Russkaya Liniya reports.

On March 14, with 39 votes in favor, 7 against and 100 abstentions, the UN General Assembly adopted the resolution "On the situation on the occupied territories of Azerbaijan."