Russia presents its plan for resolving Karabakh conflict

A series of meetings between Presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia, Ilkham Aliyev and Robert Kocharian, was held in Astana, Kazakhstan, on September 16. Co-chairmen of the Minsk Group Yuri Merzlyakov (Russia), Steven Mann (US), and Henry Jacolin (France) took part in the first one. "One of the submitted proposals concerns the liberation of regions bordering upon Nagorny Karabakh and return of internally displaces persons there," Mr Merzlyakov said.

A trilateral meeting between Presidents of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia was also held in Astana. Vladimir Putin told journalists after the meeting that thought no result had been achieved yet, each meeting of such a kind was a "step forward". Azerbaijan political scientists hurried to announce the existence of a certain "Moscow formula" for the resolution of the Karabakh conflict, which meets Azerbaijan interests in no way. According to Azerbaijan political scientist Eldar Namazov, this formula can stipulate the withdrawal of Armenian troops from Azerbaijan territories bordering on Nagorny Karabakh in exchange for referendums on the status both in Karabakh and Azerbaijan as a whole.

"The existence of the "Moscow formula" is better than the standstill at which negotiations have been already for the second decade. Russia can support the variant of the problem resolution which will suit all the parties involved and be a guarantor for mutually acceptable agreements if necessary," political scientist Arif Yunus said.

Political scientist Zardusht Alizade believes no formulas and ideas will lead to definite results until the parties themselves realize the resolution of the conflict depends on them first of all. "Preserving today's status quo is advantageous to Moscow itself first of all. Otherwise it will lose real instruments of putting pressure on Azerbaijan and partly on Armenia when the problem is resolved," Mr Alizade said.