September 23, 2008 - 19:01 AMT
Armenia will never accept Turkey as mediator in Karabakh issue
Armenia will never accept Turkey as a mediator in the Karabakh issue, a Russian expert said.

"To ensure a fair resolution of the Karabakh conflict, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Turkey and Russia should be engaged in talks. The fact is that Turkey is Azerbaijan's ally, Russia is Armenia's, Iran has good relations with Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia. Combining the viewpoints, the sides could reach an agreement. As to Karabakh, I think its delegation can join the talks as well," Alexander Sotnichenko, senior lecturer at St. Petersburg State University, told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

At the same time he emphasized that the U.S., EU or other international structures should not be allowed into the process. "They are all interested to preserve the current state of affairs. Turkey has come to understand this," Sotnichenko said.