February 10-11 the Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents will meet in Rambouillet to negotiate on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement. Although signing of any document is not expected big hopes are anchored with this meeting of Robert Kocharian and Ilham Aliyev, BBC reports. On Thursday a U.S. Department of State official characterized this meeting as the most important event in the Karabakh process during recent five years. Observers suppose that progress will be fixed in the settlement process in 2006. These hopes are inspired with optimistic hints made by the parties and mediators.
When asked whether a breakthrough is possible in the settlement of one of the most bloody conflicts in the post soviet space Eurasia Group President Ian Bremmer said, “From conversations with members of the Bush administration it becomes clear that parties are close to signing of a preliminary agreement. I think the framework agreement is nearly ready.”
According to Mr. Bremmer, the determination of the status of Nagorno Karabakh may become a fundament for a breakthrough. However, the source says, judging from the straight-out statements made by Aliyev and Kocharian as well as militaristic publications in Armenian and Azeri media it will be rather hard to an agreement.
It should be also noted that the schedule of matches for the European championship is being composed in Brussels. The heads of the Football Federations of Armenia and Azerbaijan have already announced of their readiness to play on the opponent’s ground. However, in their words, one cannot do without the support of the leadership. Thus, the Karabakh settlement process may acquire one more constituent – sports.
