“There is no further effective alternative option to the Minsk Group format”, so responded the former US Ambassador to Armenia John Evans in response to the question of Arvot.am about the expectations of developments in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict peaceful settlement process, especially in the event when Azerbaijan is active both in the border and is trying to change the format of the conflict peaceful settlement, for example, as a result of Azeri propaganda in PACE, it is preparing a report on Nagorno-Karabakh.
Under the project ““Dialogues” International Press Club for the Armenian Media: For the diversification of international information sources for the Armenian media” of the Region Research Center, supported by OSCE Office in Yerevan, during the online press conference, Mr. Evans noted, “The settlement of the conflict depends not so much on the co-chairs as on conflicting parties.” He also mentioned that be it in Strasbourg, Vienna and elsewhere, the parties should refrain from lobbying and try to find solutions to the conflict settlement.
Former ambassador reminded that many Russian mass media described the protests against the electricity price hike in Armenia as the Maidan. Then, we asked whether this is the Russian propaganda machine, or actually, some elements of Maidan are noticed in this process, John Evans replied, “Indeed, Russian and Ukrainian mass media made an attempt to attach the label of Maidan to the protest against the electricity price hike in Armenia. And each one had its own reasons in this matter. But the RA citizens are able to successfully respond to these unfounded allegations.”
There was also a reference to the possible progress in the Armenian-Turkish relations. However, at the moment, John Evans sees very few prospects for an improvement in Armenian-Turkish relations, but suggests both parties to “enter into full diplomatic relations.”
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Back to the concerns voiced regarding the fact of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border escalations, Mr. Evans stressed that both sides, particularly Baku, will exercise restraint as there is always the chance that an incident might escalate into a serious conflict and lead to a resumption of full-scale war, which, under current conditions, could be vastly more destructive than the war of the early 1990s.”
Mr. Evans expressed serious concern over the fact that ceasefire violations are taking place in the border sections of Tavush and Nakhchivan.
Tatev HARUTYUNYAN
