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“There is always a threat of a renewed war, however the official Stepanakert does not share the preconceived forecasts that ‘Armenia and Azerbaijan are closer to war than at any point since the 1994 ceasefire’,” David Babayan, Spokesman of the President of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), noted in an interview with Panorama.am, commenting on the regular report released by the International Crisis Group (ICG).

“It is strange why the group did not issue such a report, let’s say, before the April war, given the fact that Azerbaijan had been preparing for it for 22 years. That a war may break out is evident for everyone; simply its likelihood is low in the coming future. Making such forecasts in a report when the international community announces about the necessity of the peaceful settlement of the [Nagorno-Karabakh] conflict is simply unacceptable,” Mr. Babayan highlighted.

Our interlocutor is surprised that the ICG’s report made no mention of the latest targeted statement of the OSCE Minsk Group condemning the Azerbaijani offensive actions, as well as the Azerbaijani violence during the four-day April war and the recruitment of mercenaries in the war by Azerbaijan as a matter of practice.

“The International Crisis Group seems to have made up a reality for itself and believes in it. That report does not reflect the reality. It would be better if the report presented the objective situation. It is highly controversial,” the Karabakh official said.

Panorama.am has also talked to political analyst Hrant Melik-Shahnazaryan over the topic. The expert noted that Azerbaijan seeks to change the situation through military means, since the country realizes that the negotiation process is not in its favor.

“However the Azerbaijani failure at the April war showed that the country lacks the capacity. Azerbaijan’s wishes and capacities are not in line with each other. It can be stated that today that country is not ready to unleash a war and successfully conduct it,” the expert said.