Menu
Latest
Menu
Latest
Richard Giragosian: War in Karabakh conflict zone is more than realistic

Richard Giragosian: War in Karabakh conflict zone is more than realistic

9 August 2012

The recognition of Karabakh's independence by the State of Massachusetts demonstrates the importance of Nagorno-Karabakh to Washington, Head of the Regional Studies Center Richard Giragosian said at a press conference.

He recalled that in June 2012 the State of Rhode Island also adopted a similar resolution on Nagorno- Karabakh. These two resolutions are the evidence of Washington's interest in the Karabakh issue, he said.  The expert also stressed that the Karabakh conflict is of more interest to the United States than the other frozen conflicts.  

When speaking of possible developments in the Karabakh peace process, the expert said that Azerbaijan's aggression and the increase of its military potential create additional tension in the conflict zone. This is a signal for both Armenia and the international community. Giragosian added that the relations between Ankara and Baku, which have recently worsened, also make the situation tense in the region. In this context, the expert thinks that military actions in the  Karabakh conflict zone are more than probable.  

The expert thinks that the OSCE Minsk Group format for the Karabakh  peace process is a deadlock. He said that the OSCE MG is only to maintain the diplomatic aspect of the peace process and to prevent  possible unleashing of military actions. He also stressed that despite the OSCE MG's efforts, the conflicting parties maintain their  own approaches on the basic components of the Karabakh problem.  

As regards the domestic political situation in Nagorno-Karabakh, Giragosian stressed that despite the democratic presidential elections on July 19 2012, the NKR still faces a complicated  socio-economic situation and high-level corruption.

Related articles

Editor's choice
News
UAE says it will withdraw from Yemen, but division emerges in Yemeni presidential council
Trending

UAE says it will withdraw from Yemen, but division emerges in Yemeni presidential council

31 December 2025
In a move seen as an attempt to de-escalate a crises with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, on Tuesday (30th December) announced that it was heeding a call to withdraw its troops from Southern Yemen. UAE says that its presence included counter-terrorism teams that were crucial in fighting against Islamist groups. UAE sources said that parts of Yemen not controlled by the Houthis have had Al Qaeda in the Arab Peninsula (AQAP) operatives using the territory to launch attacks on Europe, the US and Middle East. UAE teams have co-ordinated with American and British special forces and intelligence. The sources added that Emirati forces and their Yemeni allies also helped reverse Houthi gains in the south. including the liberation of Aden port. The small UAE contingent has remained in place since the UAE withdrew most of its military personnel in 2019. The leading English-language newspaper in Abu Dhabi, The National, said that the main UAE force was based at Riyan Mukalla International Airport, with access to fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters, but also operated smaller contingents in the port town Balhaf and Shabwa. "It is understood it also flew a number of drones from the airbase that were able to track terrorist movements, pass information back to its allies and assisted special forces' missions." Meanwhile a division has emerged in Yemen's presidential council after four members denounced what they called the 'unilateral decisions' by the chairman. Four of Yemen’s eight Presidential Leadership Council members on Tuesday denounced an announcement by the council’s chairman accusing him of breaching the governing agreement. Tension between Yemeni leaders has been rising for weeks, underscoring the fragility of the country's already fractured political landscape and further complicating efforts to confront the Iran-backed Houthi rebels. The latest rift took an unprecedented turn on Tuesday morning, marked by a Saudi-led coalition “limited operation” striking combat vehicles Riyadh linked to the Southern Transitional Council, which has three members in the PLC. The PLC Chairman, Rashad al Alimi, on Tuesday said that he was seeking to cancel the joint defence agreement with the UAE. “What has been issued … constitutes a clear violation of the Declaration of the Transfer of Power [agreement], which explicitly stipulates that the Presidential Leadership Council is a collective body whose decisions are taken by consensus, or by majority when consensus is not possible,” the statement by the four members said. “It does not, under any circumstances, allow for unilateral decision-making on sovereign, military, or major political matters." The statement was signed by STC chief Aidarous Al Zubaidi, Faraj Al Bahsani, Tariq Saleh and Abu Zaraa al Muharrami. (click the picture to read the full article).

Popular

Editor's choice
News
UAE says it will withdraw from Yemen, but division emerges in Yemeni presidential council
Trending

UAE says it will withdraw from Yemen, but division emerges in Yemeni presidential council

31 December 2025
In a move seen as an attempt to de-escalate a crises with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, on Tuesday (30th December) announced that it was heeding a call to withdraw its troops from Southern Yemen. UAE says that its presence included counter-terrorism teams that were crucial in fighting against Islamist groups. UAE sources said that parts of Yemen not controlled by the Houthis have had Al Qaeda in the Arab Peninsula (AQAP) operatives using the territory to launch attacks on Europe, the US and Middle East. UAE teams have co-ordinated with American and British special forces and intelligence. The sources added that Emirati forces and their Yemeni allies also helped reverse Houthi gains in the south. including the liberation of Aden port. The small UAE contingent has remained in place since the UAE withdrew most of its military personnel in 2019. The leading English-language newspaper in Abu Dhabi, The National, said that the main UAE force was based at Riyan Mukalla International Airport, with access to fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters, but also operated smaller contingents in the port town Balhaf and Shabwa. "It is understood it also flew a number of drones from the airbase that were able to track terrorist movements, pass information back to its allies and assisted special forces' missions." Meanwhile a division has emerged in Yemen's presidential council after four members denounced what they called the 'unilateral decisions' by the chairman. Four of Yemen’s eight Presidential Leadership Council members on Tuesday denounced an announcement by the council’s chairman accusing him of breaching the governing agreement. Tension between Yemeni leaders has been rising for weeks, underscoring the fragility of the country's already fractured political landscape and further complicating efforts to confront the Iran-backed Houthi rebels. The latest rift took an unprecedented turn on Tuesday morning, marked by a Saudi-led coalition “limited operation” striking combat vehicles Riyadh linked to the Southern Transitional Council, which has three members in the PLC. The PLC Chairman, Rashad al Alimi, on Tuesday said that he was seeking to cancel the joint defence agreement with the UAE. “What has been issued … constitutes a clear violation of the Declaration of the Transfer of Power [agreement], which explicitly stipulates that the Presidential Leadership Council is a collective body whose decisions are taken by consensus, or by majority when consensus is not possible,” the statement by the four members said. “It does not, under any circumstances, allow for unilateral decision-making on sovereign, military, or major political matters." The statement was signed by STC chief Aidarous Al Zubaidi, Faraj Al Bahsani, Tariq Saleh and Abu Zaraa al Muharrami. (click the picture to read the full article).