Armenian political analysts question relevance of Madrid Principles

Political analysts responded to the meeting of Nikol Pashinyan and Ilham Aliev in Davos. Azerbaijan has abandoned the Madrid Principles, believes Oganes Igityan, a member of the ruling "My Step" Party. Azerbaijan tries to strengthen its position, while the Armenian authorities have to demonstrate toughness and readiness to negotiate at the same time, notes political analyst Alexander Iskandaryan. The US does not want a resumption of the war in Nagorno-Karabakh because of the Iranian issue, believes political analyst Suren Sargsyan.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the settlement of the Karabakh conflict is based on the Madrid Principles put forward by the OSCE Minsk Group in 2007 in Madrid and updated in 2009. The OSCE Minsk Group's co-chair countries are Russia, the USA, and France. Azerbaijan accepts the Madrid Principles with the proviso to see Nagorno-Karabakh as a part of its territory, while Armenia puts forward the opposite condition.

Azerbaijan tries to change the logic of the negotiations and strengthen its position, believes Alexander Iskandaryan, the director of the Caucasus Institute.

"Until now, the situation looked like Armenia was willing to make concessions, while Azerbaijan blocked all the proposals voiced by the Minsk Group. Azerbaijan had the image of a non-constructive country ... Now Azerbaijan is trying to change its image and have all its proposals being rejected by Armenia," states Alexander Iskandaryan.

In fact, the world community and, in particular, the United States imposed a veto on resolving the conflict by military means, noted political analyst Suren Sargsyan.

The negotiations have intensified, but it is too early to talk about progress until the Minsk Group organizes a meeting of the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan, Suren Sargsyan believes.

"Although Nikol Pashinyan and Ilham Aliev met three times ..., for the time being, we can only talk about negotiations within the Minsk Group at the level of foreign ministers. There is an introductory stage," the expert explains.