“Status quo is not the best way out”
Status quo is not the best way out, Kutlay Erk, a representative of Cyprus, said in Yerevan on April 4 during the roundtable "Establishing peace and peaceful co-existence after an armed conflict - Cyprus and Northern Ireland."
The event brought together representatives from the Northern Ireland, Cyprus who, together with Armenian specialists, discussed the factors which promote the peaceful settlement of conflicts.
Though the international experts agreed that the Karabakh and Cypriot conflicts are incomparable, they underlined the necessity of constructive approach during the negotiations.
Jonathan Powell, chief of staff to British Prime Minister Tony Blair and chief negotiator for the resolution of conflict with Northern Ireland, is convinced that conflicts cannot be resolved until people believe their settlement.
"Both Armenia and Azerbaijan think that the opposite side should make compromises. The sides should start effective negotiations," said Powell.
"There are quite a number of similarities between the Nagorno-Karabakh and Cypriot conflicts: wars, bloodshed, tears, refugees and blockade in both cases. However, the principal similarity is the need for ways of resolving the conflicts," said the international experts.
On April 5, the experts are scheduled to meet with the representatives of parliamentary and extra-parliamentary forces in Armenia.
