Freizer: Last Hard Moves Left for Karabakh Conflict Parties

PanARMENIAN.Net - Caucasus Project Director for the International Crisis Group (ICG) Sabine Freizer stated Armenia «is not against withdrawal of its troops from a few occupied territories before the issue of the Nagorno Karabakh status is finally decided.» «My stand has been formed on the basis of analysis of opinions of Armenian officials and public opinion,» she remarked. In S. Freizer's words, «after the beginning of the Prague process the parties passed a long way and today they are not far from solution of the problem. However, they have to make a few hard moves to attain compromise.» The Armenian party added as of today it did not agree to «return Lachin and Kelbajar», while Azerbaijan denies the opportunity to decide the Karabakh status via a referendum. «It is also necessary to decide when the occupied territories will be released and the security guarantees to the parties, and the way to decide the Karabakh status. The parties should come to agreement over the Lachin issue,» the ICG representative said. «However, it is hard to say, whether the agreement will be reached during the meeting of the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan scheduled in February,» she added. Sabine Freizer remarked the importance of the coming Kocharian-Aliyev meeting. She hoped that «they will manage to take last hard moves on the way to compromise,» reported RFE/RL.