Azernews.Az

The rhetoric about recognition of the "independence" of Nagorno-Karabakh is an attempt to exert pressure not only on Azerbaijan, but also on the OSCE Minsk Group, says Nadana Fridrikhson, political analyst, journalist and expert at the Cube analytical center.

Speaking to Trend May 6, Fridrikhson said the hostilities in early April actually canceled the existing status quo in the Nagorno-Karabakh issue.

She says that in the current situation, when there are all the prerequisites for the start of a war, Armenia is trying to get on the nerves.

"De jure "recognition of independence" of Nagorno-Karabakh may provoke Azerbaijan into military actions because Baku will have no other choice," added the expert.

Fridrikhson also believes that the confrontation between Moscow and Ankara will affect the situation in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Armenia's Foreign Ministry made a statement on May 5 saying that the rumors about the decision of the Armenian government regarding two MPs' initiative to recognize the "independence" of Azerbaijan's Nagorno-Karabakh region are groundless.

The statement read that the government's decision doesn't mean approval of that initiative.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz