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Putin can help resolve conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh region: Pundit

Sunday, 03 April 2016 9:06 AM [ Last Update: Sunday, 03 April 2016 9:05 AM ]

A picture taken on April 2, 2016 reportedly shows the remains of the downed Azerbaijan’s Mi-24 helicopter in a field in Armenian-seized Azerbaijani region. ©AFP

Press TV has conducted an interview with Christopher Walker, an ex-Moscow correspondent of The Times from London, about Russia’s response to the new deadly clashes between Armenia and Azerbaijan Republic over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh.

The following is a rough transcription of the interview.

Press TV: We hear very often about the flare-up of violence around Nagorno-Karabakh, what’s the root cause of this?

Walker: The root causes are the nationalistic as you explained Nagorno-Karabakh is claimed by Azerbaijan as part of its territory, but it’s in the hands of ethnic Armenians.

It’s hard to imagine a more potentially explosive situation in the time when nationalisms in the area are gaining strength and when people have seen how wars like this can suddenly explode on the spot despite the efforts of the bigger powers and when perhaps the eyes of the bigger powers have been turned elsewhere.

This is sort of a conflict that has been around since the end certainly of the Soviet Union, when there was a great deal of violence causing some 30,000 deaths.

In the South Caucasus compares in some ways to the Balkans, vastly complex all for potentials for violence and added to this is the fact its crisscross by oil and gas pipelines, which are vital to many parts of the world.

Press TV: So, in essence, you’re saying that the super powers of the world are being naïve and not trying to solve this conflict, because it would have ramifications for everybody?

Walker: Oh no, I don’t think you can say Mr. Putin’s been naïve. He has tried hard before, classic meetings in Sochi between two leaders in 2009, but the Americans perhaps are more distant from it over. They’re trying to play a part.

This is a conflict that Mr. Putin could, if he manages to solve it now, gain enormous diplomatic quotas as a world statesman. And that’s probably one reason why he’s stepped in so fast, but of course it’s in his hinterland and a long way from the USA.

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