For the first time since the collapse of the former Soviet Union an Azerbaijani airliner has landed at Armenia’s main Zvartnots Airport. In what was no doubt as much symbolic in the context of continuing attempts to resolve the conflict over Nagorno Karabakh than simply travel, the Azal Airlines TU–134 carried the three OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs charged with the task of mediating a solution.
After the new U.S. co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, Matthew Bryza, revealed details of the proposed framework peace deal to resolve the Karabakh conflict last week, much to the annoyance of the Armenian President, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has now released more details. Actually, we already knew what was being discussed, but this is the first time that American and Armenian officials have confirmed them openly, and in so much detail.
RFE/RL reports that the ongoing process to find a peaceful settlement to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict continues. In particular, it says that this month’s meeting between the the U.S. President and Ilham Aliyev could represent new moves by Washington to put pressure on the Azerbaijani leader to accept a concessionary deal in the works since late 2004.
RFE/RL’s Armenia Service reports that the new European Envoy on the South Caucasus has again underscored the importance the EU places on resolving the long-standing conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the mainly-Armenian populated territory of Nagorno Karabakh. Speaking to reporters after meeting the Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian, Peter Semneby again stated that there is a “window of opportunity” still open this year.
RFE/RL once again confirms that this time round, there really is the chance of a peace deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed mainly Armenian inhabited territory of Nagorno Karabakh.
Yesterday, RFE/RL reported that Armenia and Azerbaijan are “close to finalizing a peace deal” over the disputed mainly-Armenian populated territory of Nagorno Karabakh. Today, ArmeniaLiberty reports that a senior opposition figure says that the authorities in Stepanakert are opposed to the idea of a “phased peace deal.”
RFE/RL reports that Armenia and Azerbaijan are close to finalizing a peace deal as early as the end of this year. While this sounds too fantastic, rumors to this effect have been circulating around Yerevan since the end of last year. In the spring, high profile public comments from the Armenian President and Defense Minister confirmed Yerevan’s position that “painful concessions are necessary for peace” in order to achieve a final solution to the “frozen conflict” over the disputed territory of Nagorno Karabakh.
Agence France Press (AFP) reports that the Azerbaijani military budget has increased by 70 per cent this year to $300 million, largely as a result of increased oil revenues. The largest of the three South Caucasus republics inauguarated a multi-billion oil pipeline from Baku to the Turkish port of Ceyhan last month. AFP says the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline will bring in as much as $160 billion into the impoverished country over the next 30 years.
ArmenPress reports that Nino Burjanadze, Speaker of the Georgian parliament, Deputy Armenian National Assembly Speaker Tigran Torosian, and Siyavush Novruzov, a parliament member from Azerbaijan’s ruling Yeni Azerbaijan party, have signed a tripartite memorandum to establish a regional Parliamentary Assembly in the South Caucasus.