Azernews.Az

MOSCOW – As negotiations on settling the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno Karabakh are gaining momentum and ahead of a discussion at the OSCE summit of a peace outline that envisions a pullback of Armenian armed forces from the contact line with Azerbaijani troops, the Armenian disapora worldwide has launched preparations for a fresh war, Russia’s Regnum news agency reported.

Major ethnic Armenian businessmen from Russia, France, the United States and Uruguay have reportedly set up control centers to mobilize retired servicemen and war veterans who could be flown to the conflict zone through Iran if hostilities resume with Azerbaijan.

Armenia and Azerbaijan waged a brutal war which displaced about a million Azerbaijanis. The armed conflict, which flared up due to Armenia’s territorial claims, ended with the signing of a fragile cease-fire in 1994. About 20 percent of Azerbaijani territory is still under the occupation of the Armenian armed forces. US, Russian and French mediators have proposed a peace outline dubbed the Madrid Document, which covers "the return of the territories surrounding Nagorno Karabakh to Azerbaijani control" as well as a future determination of Nagorno Karabakh’s status and the right of the displaced persons to return home.

An ethnic Armenian Russian businessman, one of the initiators of the Pre-emptive Mobilization program, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Regnum that work was underway as part of the Union of Armenian Reservists and Veterans, a newly established international movement. The movement may comprise up to 200,000 Armenians from 38 countries, its activists estimate.

The source claimed that "the information-analytical backbone" of the Armenian diaspora’s reserve has already been composed and includes acting and former secret service officers from several world powers.

"They are analyzing not only potential case scenarios but are also throughly scrutinizing the backgrounds of everyone joining ‘the Armenian diaspora’s army’ to prevent the infilitration of foes and spies into our ranks."

Asked what tools would be employed if war flared up in the Karabakh conflict zone today, the source said: "War is at our doorstep! And every means is justified in warfare. I am not saying that we will employ Usama bin Laden’s practices, no. We will act openly and more harshly. It is currently crystal clear that Karabakh is in danger. Without Karabakh, there won’t be an Armenia either. And without Armenia, there won’t be Armenians either. The nation is in peril, and every Armenian joining us – regardless of the country he lives in – realizes that."

The separatist regime in the Nagorno Karabakh region, which remains under Armenian occupation along with seven adjacent Azerbaijani districts, proclaimed so-called independence in 1991. This "independence," which is a blatant violation of international law, has not been recognized by any country.

The ethnic Armenian businessman alleged that non-Armenians are enrolling in the diaspora’s reserve as well. "For instance, the most active in this respect are the anti-Turkish nations -- the Serbs, Bulgarians and even Italians."

In reply to a question whether or not the Armenian government supports this ‘undertaking’, the businessman said: "I won’t elaborate on that at this point. Everything will clear up by itself after Astana [the OSCE summit due December 1-2].