March 3, 2009 - 10:40 AMT
Unwillingness to negotiate with NKR indicates Azerbaijan's weakness
Formidable obstacles should be cleared for soonest resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, an Armenian expert said.

"During a 2-day visit to Stepanakert, OSCE MG Russian Co-chair Yuri Merzlyakov was quite right to say that atmosphere of trust should be created for resolution of the conflict," Ruben Zargaryan, adviser to the NKR Minister of Foreign Affairs, said in a piece of opinion obtained by PanARMENIAN.Net.

"Although NKR is mentioned in the international documents as a party to conflict, statements on necessity to re-engage Nagorno Karabakh in the process dash against Azerbaijan's destructive opposition," he said, adding that unwillingness to negotiate with NKR indicates Azerbaijan's weakness.

He also emphasized that any agreement which fails to take into account the reasons of the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict will be short-lived.

"Baku's position bases on ungrounded territorial claims. Azerbaijan plans to capture entire Nagorno Karabakh after the liberated territories are returned," Zargaryan said.

"Meanwhile, recognition of NKR should be the starting point in talks. This will help overcome the consequences of the conflict," he added.

Another obstacle to resolution of the conflict is the myth about Armenia's weakness disseminated by Azerbaijan, according to Zargaryan.

"In an attempt to convince the international community and its own people that Armenia is too weak and will have to make unilateral concession, Azerbaijan at the same time grossly exaggerates the amount of its oil and gas resources," he concluded.