Long-term absence of solution to Karabakh conflict causes less and less confidence in Azerbaijani society towards negotiations, believes Avaz Hasanov, the director of the Society for Humanitarian Research in Azerbaijan.
"Our society has no information regarding the essence of Madrid principles. However, given Azerbaijani society's deprivation of political processes it is clear that the need for info is declining. Therefore, it has become more difficult to explain to citizens the variants of the solution to the conflict that hinders their developemnt", he says.
The expert also touched upon the deepening military sentiments within the process. He believes, this is caused by despair. The Azerbaijani society is not sure of the conflict consequences, therefore the opinion a la "war is inevitable" are becoming more and more common.
Hasanov believes, against such uncertainty it is important and possible to prove to citizens through Madrid principles that there is an alternative approach. Given the reduction of civil society's peace making opportunities, Hasanov is surprised the Azeri officials miss the chance to maneuver within the process. Baku's chances of denying the arguments of the population unhappy with the protracted conflict are reducing more and more.
Since 1992 the OSCE Minsk Group represented by co-chairs from Russia, U.S. and France has been mediating in resolution of the conflict unleashed by Azerbaijan in 1988. At present the peace process is based on the Madrid Principles suggested by the OSCE MG in 2007 in Madrid and renovated in 2009.