An article entitled ""Presidential elections" in Nagorno-Karabakh a blow to peace negotiations" has been published in Turkish newspaper Today`s Zaman.
The article says: "Nagorno-Karabakh, a territory subject to an unresolved conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, has held "presidential elections," outraging Azerbaijan and drawing the attention of the international community, which has condemned the polls as illegal and claimed that the elections will damage the future status of Nagorno-Karabakh.
"The elections held in Nagorno-Karabakh will have a negative political impact on peace negotiations," said Orkhan Akbarov, chair of the Azerbaijani Community of Nagorno-Karabakh Coordination Council, in an interview with Sunday`s Zaman, adding: "These kinds of fake elections are contrary to international law."
Although there have been efforts to resolve the dispute through the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group initiative, there has been no progress as of yet.
A Turkish analyst who declined to be named said in an interview with Sunday`s Zaman that the "presidential elections" will have little effect on the conflict. "No major changes are expected. The status quo will continue until a particular fracture happens," said the expert, adding that only loss of life could impact the status quo.
Although there has been a Russian-brokered cease-fire in place between Armenia and Azerbaijan since 1994, there are sporadic breaches of the agreement along the border.
Many countries, Turkey most significantly, as well as international organizations such as the EU, OSCE and Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) stood by the Azerbaijani government while condemning the "presidential elections" held in Nagorno-Karabakh.
Akbarov says this once more demonstrates that the borders between Armenia and Turkey should be closed "until Armenia ceases its offenses against both Azerbaijan and Turkey."
Armenia`s words to Turkey regarding Cyprus are nonsense and nothing more than absurd rhetoric. "All this is pointless verbosity and works against Armenia in the region as it will not bring anything positive to Armenia. On the contrary, it will worsen Armenia`s position in the region."

AzerTAc