We are witnessing serious changes
We are witnessing serious changes. Not so long time ago the insisted on the restoration of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.
Today the USA has reviewed its approaches and emphasis since the political field has been enriched with a new event - Armenian-Turkish Protocols," former deputy defense minister of the Republic of Armenia Vahan Shirkhanian told A1+.
Today the USA exerts pressure on Turkey by raising the issue of the Armenian Genocide in the Congress and on Azerbaijan. Anyway, in both cases the developments will lead to the ratification of the Armenian-Turkish Protocols.
The USA will benefit from the Armenian-Turkish rapprochement. The opening of the Armenian-Turkish border has a strategic importance for the USA."
U.S. Deputy Assistant State Secretary Tina Kaidanow announced that they would recognize Karabakh's independence though official Washington refutes the statement.
"Superpowers have always pursued their interests in the region, hence the change of the U.S. stance in the Karabakh conflict settlement," Mr. Shirkhanian said.
Asked why Russia, Armenia's military partner, hasn't recognized Karabakh's independence, Vahan Shirkhanian said: "And why hasn't Armenia recognized the independence of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic? I think Russia will do it after Armenia recognizes the independence of Nagorno Karabakh.
Azerbaijan fully realizes that it has no chances to win Armenians; therefore it doesn't wage a war. The authorities of Turkey, Azerbaijan and Armenia make suchlike announcements for "domestic consumption."
Regarding the statement of EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus Peter Semneby that Nagorno-Karabakh's status is postponed for an indefinite time-period, Mr. Shirkhanian said: "I think that the heads of the of the OSCE Minsk Group's Co-Chair countries make much weightier statements than Semneby does. The presidents of France, the Russian Federation, and the United States of America have already said that Karabakh's status is put under consideration."
Vahan Shirkhanian is sure that the Armenian-Turkish border cannot be opened unless the Karabakh conflict is resolved.
"The road from Ankara to Baku will pass through Meghri. If the Karbakh issue is not resolved, this road will not work," said Mr. Shirkhanian adding that the Armenian-Turkish border will not be opened in the nearest future.
