Stepan Grigoryan: Iran is a serious stakeholder in the regionDecember 14, 2009 - 21:54 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Iran's willingness to act as a broker in Karabakh peace deal should not sound surprising, since the country has periodically proposed such initiatives, according to Stepan Grigoryan, Head of Analytical Centre on Globalization and Regional Cooperation. "In early 1990s, Iran was a mediator between Azerbaijan and Armenia. It is a serious regional stakeholder whose opinion cannot be ignored," he told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.As to why the country made the proposal now, the politician said Iran cannot hold a neutral stance, seeing the attempts of linking Karabakh peace process with Armenian-Turkish rapprochement. "Of course, OSCE Minsk Group remains the only format for settling Karabakh conflict, but that doesn't mean we should be inattentive to other initiatives and proposals," Armenian expert said. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Lemkin Institute petition seeks release of Armenians in Azerbaijan The Lemkin Institute is deeply concerned about the continued illegal detention of political prisoners from Karabakh in Azerbaijan. Armenian Catholicos calls for national unity against threats Karekin II issued a message on Republic Day marking the anniversary of the First Armenian Republic. Pashinyan: Armenia’s desired goal is “on the horizon” Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said that Armenia is moving forward “without interruption”. Opposition leader, supporters spend night at Sardarapat memorial Police made nearly 300 arrests the day before as Galstanyan and his supporters continued to demonstrate in Yerevan. |