NEWS DIGEST

Azerbaijani Media: March 1-14, 2011

Armenian Media: March 1-14, 2011

NEUTRAL ZONE BLOG

Can Georgia play an active role in the settlement of the Nagorno- Karabakh conflict?

With the Minsk Group of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) achieving little progress, if any, in the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict for several years now, a new idea seems to be promoted — Georgia’s possible role in the resolution of the Karabakh conflict — with practical steps already being taken at the civil society level… Read more

Interview with writer Ali Akbar

I have already introdused myself to Armenian readers. I have been to Armenia three time in total. My first visit was in 2005. Armenian media, its non-govermental organizations recognize me as a writer. Even their students know me… Because together with composer Elmir Mirzayev, we gave a master class for ten days at the Yerevan Slavonic University. This was the project financed by the UK government… Read more

Interview with Vahram Martirosyan

I am probably the only Armenian writer in the last 20 years who the Azerbaijani public had a chance to read. My novel “Landslides” has been published in the newspaper “Senet.” I am writing about what interests me. And what interests me today might differ from what interested me yesterday. I am not trying to write a series of books on similar topics, or trying to create a “brand” that I could describe in a few words… Read more

March 15, 2011 – Volume 3, Issue 2

ANALYSIS

PACE subcommittee on Nagorno- Karabakh: an opportunity for multi- track diplomacy

by Afa Alizada

Since brokering a ceasefire agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan in 1994, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has been the sole official platform for negotiations between the warring parties. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group — Russia, France, and the United States — have mediated the peace process for the past 17 years with no real progress in sight. The OSCE Minsk Group’s stated objectives are to provide an appropriate framework for conflict resolution; obtain an agreement on the cessation of the armed conflict; and promote the peace process by deploying OSCE multinational peacekeeping forces. Needless to say, the Minsk Group has not been successful in even getting the parties to agree on the basic principles.

The lack of success can be attributed to the intransigence of the conflicting parties as much as it can be attributed to the complex geopolitical interests of the mediators involved. Despite its shortcomings, however, the OSCE Minsk Group still remains the best option for official negotiations for several reasons… Read more

A question for the field of conflict resolution: who decides?

By Tamar Palandjian

The parties to the conflict over Nagorno Karabakh maintain that the principles of international law justify the basis of their positions. Armenia and Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh claim the right to self-determination of its peoples. Azerbaijan claims its right to territorial integrity of its land. If the parties are justified in claiming international law as the foundation of their positions – how will the outcome be decided upon?

When considering the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, how were the borders of Nagorno Karabakh determined in the first place? When considering self-determination of Nagorno Karabakh, who is considered to be a part of “the people of Nagorno Karabakh”? In reality, the parties have used the legal principles to justify why they are more entitled to Nagorno Karabakh than the other party, and this has led to each side further continuing to insist on their positions rather than thinking creatively about the conflict’s resolution… Read more

For full PDF newsletter of this issue please visitwww.caucasusedition.net/newsletters/

“PACE Subcommittee on Nagorno- Karabakh…” by A. Alizada and “A Question for the field of Conflict Resolution…” by T. Palandjian