Madrid Principles for Karabakh conflict settlement run counter to Armenia’s interests, according to the head of Caucasus Department of the CIS Institute.

As Mikhail Alexandrov told a news conference in Yerevan, adoption of Madrid Principles will spell secession of Karabakh, as the clause on the interim status of Karabakh suggests.

As the expert noted, were the conflict settled based on Madrid principles, Karabakh would have been given an undefined status. “As a result, Armenian forces would be induced to leave 7 liberated regions, which would soon be occupied by Azeri army,” he remarked.

Alexandrov noted the return of refugees as the next stage of conflict settlement based on Madrid Principles. “This, in turn, will arise disputes about their number. The refugees will soon outnumber Karabakh residents, with a referendum ending in favor of Azeri side,” he noted.