Paul Goble
Staunton, February 1 – In yet another indication that the Russian government wants to avoid being viewed as taking sides, Dmitry Medvedev, deputy head of Russia’s Security Council, says that the final status of Qarabagh remains open but that any discussion of the issue now could prove explosive.
Speaking in Gorki, the former Russian president said that “it is perfectly obvious to everyone today that the issue about the status [of Qarabagh] really has not been decided, but that it must not be discussed now because any such increased attention about status could lead to a powerful explosion” (tass.ru/politika/10593305).
The sides in this conflict “are very far part” on this question, he continued. “Even within Armenia discussions are going on.” And he pointed out that “Armenia did not recognize the independence of Qarabagh,” although this is sometimes forgotten. “Therefore, it is better to put off the issue of status until the future.”
Neither Armenia nor Azerbaijan will be entirely pleased by this declaration, although both will be happier than with one by Moscow coming down on the side of its opponent. Armenia has wanted status to be discussed now because it believes that such discussions will give it leverage on other issues.
But Azerbaijan argues that the issue of status has already been resolved, that Qarabagh is part of Azerbaijan, and that there is no reason to talk about it. This issue also affects the future involvement of the Minsk Group whose Western co-chairs have suggested in recent times that the issue of status needs to be addressed sooner rather than later.
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