Ismayilova Addresses Repression, Russian Media Influence At Capitol Hill Azerbaijan Hearing

Khadija Ismayilova

Witnesses testifying at a U.S. congressional hearing on September 15 voiced deep concern about rising Russian influence and instability in Azerbaijan, as well as the continued forced closure of RFE/RL’s bureau in Azerbaijan’s capital, Baku.

The hearing, entitled “Azerbaijan: Do Human Rights Matter?” was organized by the bipartisan Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, chaired by U.S. Representative James McGovern (D-MA), and took place just two weeks before a planned constitutional referendum that panelists and human rights groups have criticized for being held in the absence of independent media, opposing campaigning, and international monitors.

Investigative journalist, former political prisoner, and RFE/RL contributor Khadija Ismayilova told the hearing of the harsh conditions faced by journalists like herself who report on high-level corruption, pointing out that “no [Azerbaijani] laws say that journalism is a crime…But where critical journalism is concerned, it is really difficult to enforce the rule of law in Azerbaijan.” Ismayilova addressed the hearing by video conference from her home in Baku, as she is currently barred by the government from traveling outside Azerbaijan.

In response to a question from Rep. McGovern about how the international community can help Azerbaijanis access accurate and factual news, Ismayilova noted that “Radio Free Europe is the best America has done in Azerbaijan.”

Ismayilova, who said 138 political prisoners are currently being held in Azerbaijani prisons, testified that repression inside the country has targeted pro-Western journalists, bloggers, politicians and civil society activists, as well as religious moderates. At the same time, she said, “Russian media has its bureaus in Baku, while RFE/RL's Baku bureau is closed and its equipment has been confiscated illegally.” Ismayilova also noted in her testimony that RFE/RL has been banned by the government from Azerbaijan’s domestic airwaves since 2009 -- a restriction that is not shared by Russia’s Sputnik radio station.

Richard Kauzlarich, who served as U.S. ambassador to Azerbaijan in the 1990s, declared that "quiet diplomacy has not worked” as a means of persuading the government to tolerate greater freedoms. He urged Washington to consider recalling its ambassador in Baku, and imposing asset freezes and visa bans for officials involved in repressing journalists and activists.

Ismayilova was released from prison in May this year after being arrested in December, 2014 on charges that are widely believed to have been brought in retaliation for her reporting about corruption linked to family members and friends of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. That same month, RFE/RL’s Baku bureau was raided and sealed by government agents in connection with tax-related claims that RFE/RL has called “baseless.”

S-300 and S-125 anti-aircraft missile complexes put into test in exercises of Azerbaijani Air Forces

According to the exercise scenario, the conventional enemy violating the airspace was found and the datum about it were passed over to the combat management station. Air targets were caught by radar and were immediately shot down by conventional shootings from S-300 PMU-2 "Favorite" and S-125 "Pechora-2» TM-type anti-aircraft missiles.

 

During the implementation of tasks, military aircrafts involved in the project completely destroyed the conventional enemy’s ground targets, combat vehicles, and combat engineering facilities with uncontrollable missiles and destructive aviation equipments.

 

After the training flights, Zakir Hasanov presented to pilots the most modern protective helmets and suits that meet NATO standards.

 

Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces Ilham Aliyev presented to every pilot practically more efficient and comfortable leather waistcoats.

 

Azerbaijan - Defense Minister meets with wounded servicemen

Defense Minister Colonel General Zakir Hasanov and the ministry’s administration has today visited the Main Clinic Hospital of the Armed Forces.

 

The aim of the visit was to meet with the servicemen who were wounded while trying to prevent an assault attempt of the enemy’s sabotage group last week.

 

The ministry officials first visited the monument erected for national leader Heydar Aliyev in the hospital’s yard and laid a wreath before the monument, the Defense Ministry’s press service told APA.

The minister then met with the servicemen who are currently receiving treatment at the hospital’s intensive care and orthopedics departments. Asking each soldier about their health, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov talked with them and learned their needs and requests.

The Defense Ministry were also informed that the wounded are currently being treated and there is no threat to their lives. The servicemen expressed their gratitude to the minister for his care and attention. Saying they feel good and are being served by the hospital’s staff at the highest level, our soldiers said they will soon return to their military units after the recovery and that they are capable of fighting the enemy.

In the end, Defense Minister Colonel General Zakir Hasanov gave his recommendations and instructions to the hospital’s medical staff.

Azerbaijan buys medium-range missiles

The range of fire medium-range missiles is about 3000 km.

 

Azerbaijan has gained the medium range ballistic missiles EXTRA of Israeli production (130 km) and long-range missiles (2,000 km) made in Pakistan.

 It has to be noted that in order not to disturb the balance of power, Russia does not sell long-range ballistic missiles to Armenia and Azerbaijan. At the same time, Russia has installed operational-tactical missile complexes "Iskander" with nuclear warheads on a military base in Armenia near the Turkish border.

The ballistic missiles with a range 1000-5500 km can be fitted with a nuclear warhead.

The missiles of Israel Military Industries (IMI) have the caliber of 306 mm, a length of 3.97 m, a launch weight of 450 kg and a 125 kg weight of warhead.

Pakistani missile "Shaheen-1" is capable of hitting targets at a distance of 750 km, "Hatf-4" is an improved version of the "Shaheen-1" missile with a longer range. The exact range of "Shaheen-1A" advanced missile called the "Hatf-4" is not officialy reported, although the range of fire medium-range missiles is about 3000 km.

Azerbaijan: Georgia Proposes Joint Military Jet Business

Georgia is in discussions with Azerbaijan to jointly produce Su-25 close air support jets, Azerbaijani military sources have told the news agency APA:

Military sources told APA that Georgia plans to produce the modernized versions of SU-25 aircrafts at the Tbilisi Aerospace Manufacturing Company (TAM). Tbilisi has addressed Azerbaijan for financing the project and establishing joint production. The Azerbaijani military circles welcomed the proposal, but the government will make a final decision.
If the project is implemented, certain part of the aircrafts may be produced at the military plants of Azerbaijan.

There doesn't seem to be any news on this from any Georgian sources. (The last reports about Georgia-Azerbaijan defense deals, about Azerbaijan possibly buying Georgian APCs, came only from Georgian sources, for what it's worth.) 

TAM was renationalized by the Georgian government in 2010 after having been privatized in 2004. And it was the original manufacturer of the Su-25 during the Soviet era.

This news, of course, comes as a number of reports suggest that Moscow may be stopping the sale of military aircraft that Azerbaijan had been trying to buy from Russia. But those deals were for Su-27, Su-30 and MiG-31s, and the Su-25 carries out a different mission than those. And it's also not made clear here whether or not Azerbaijan is the intended customer or not. So it may or may not be connected. But it does seem evidence of slowly growing ties between Azerbaijan and Georgia.

Georgia, Turkey and Azerbaijan are lobbying NATO to use Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway

Turkey and Azerbaijan with Georgia are lobbying NATO to use the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway for the transport from Afghanistan, said the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia Maia Panjikidze at a meeting with journalists.

"The Georgian side offers the ISAF and NATO two things. First - Georgia's participation in operations in Afghanistan after 2014, although the mission has not been determined. Apart from this, we have the willingness to make a financial contribution to the development of Afghan security forces. Second - we offer the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, which is the shortest, and cheapest way out of Afghanistan after 2014, "- said Panjikidze.

She stressed that it is a project of the three countries.

"Turkey and Azerbaijan are very interested in this road was used, and they are also lobbying for it.

First we said about it for a long time. We just try to push this question at every meeting. We do this during bilateral meetings, and it is possible that Some countries themselves will take out their loads. We already know the similar interests of some countries, "- said Maya Panjikidze.

The Caspian Arms Race

The leaders of the five Caspian Sea littoral states – Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia and Turkmenistan – frequently talk about the need for peace and security in the Caspian region. However, as the Caspian has taken on greater geostrategic importance, not least for its rich hydrocarbon reserves – rivalries and distrust between these countries has increased which, among other things, has made it increasingly difficult to reach a proper agreement or consensus over the legal status of the Caspian and how to divide it up fairly. As Zbigniew Brzezinski, a former national security adviser to US President Jimmy Carter wrote in his book, The Grand Chessboard, “a power that dominates Eurasia would control two thirds of the most advanced and economically productive regions of the world”. The Caspian Sea, with its massive oil and gas reserves, represents a significant chunk of this.

These rivalries have led to a significant increase in military spending. According to a new report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), while world military expenditure fell slightly in 2012 to $1.75 trillion (a fall of 0.5 per cent in real terms since 2011), in some regions, including the Eurasia/Caspian region, there was an increase: with all countries actively engaged in building up their capabilities. Unfortunately, such a military build-up serves to raise tensions in this already fragile and security-challenged region.

While Russia and Iran (to a lesser extent) have always had a strong naval presence since their independence, just over twenty years ago, the other three states have slowly built up their naval capabilities. Today, the level of militarisation is becoming dangerously high and over the years there have been numerous menacing confrontations. In 2001 Iranian jets and a warship carried out gunboat diplomacy on a BP research vessel prospecting in waters that Baku considers its own; in 2012 there were several incidents between Baku and Turkmenistan, while just a few weeks ago a Turkmen vessel was alleged to have come unnecessarily close to Azerbaijani oil fields. Ongoing naval military exercises, either unilaterally or between states, are also not conducive to stability and peace-building. And while Moscow has been rather belligerent over the possible construction of a TransCaspian pipeline between Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan, Iran’s erratic and unpredictable behaviour – along with its controversial nuclear programme – is of significant concern, seriously adding to the security deficit.

Russia’s Caspian Flotilla, which is based at Astrakhan, is its oldest naval fleet, dating back to 1722. It remains its strongest on the sea with Moscow having replaced many ageing vessels. Moscow is reportedly planning to add a further 16 new ships by 2020, including three new Buyan-class corvettes. The first is expected to be launched this year, with the others to be ready by 2014. Moscow is building up its naval air force, reportedly creating coastal missile units armed with anti-ship rockets capable of hitting targets in the middle of the sea. Missile cruisers of the Caspian flotilla are also now anchored off the coast of Dagestan. This naval presence is strengthened by military bases across Central Asia, Armenia and the occupied Georgian territories of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Russia, which has reportedly allocated some $55-60 billion for defence spending in 2013, has signaled this upgrading is linked to a possible military strike on Iran. According to Russian General Leonid Ivashov, who is now president of the Academy of Geopolitical Science, war with Iran would “end up at our borders, destabilise the situation in the North Caucasus and weaken our position in the Caspian region.” However, it is also no doubt linked to the internal situation in Russia. Because Russian President Vladimir Putin is increasingly losing support from the grassroots, Moscow may be trying to show strength in its foreign policy, demonstrating that Russia seeks to dampen the role of the West while strengthening its own. Hence this beefing up of the military goes hand-in-hand with Russia’s new reintegration projects, such as the Eurasian Union.

Meanwhile, Kazakhstan has also increased its defence spending. Last year the Kazakh government announced plans to spend some 8.6 billion for the period 2013-2015. In 2012, one quarter of the country’s defence budget was spent on re-armament, to replace some of what the country had inherited from the Soviet Union. Kazakhstan was the only Central Asian country that managed to get on the select list of Military Balance 2012 procurements, which featured two major deals: 40 S-300 air defence systems and 20 MIG-31 fighter jets.

Kazakhstan launched its first proper naval vessel in 2012, which it built itself. Other homemade combat vessels are also expected to be added to the fleet. Astana also bought at least two further missile boats and in 2013, Kazakhstan is expected to purchase more of these rocket-artillery ships. A marine training station is due to be opened in 2016 and Kazakhstan plans to turn the Aktau seaport into a hub for transporting military cargo from Afghanistan, bypassing Russia.

While Turkmenistan’s military has had a reputation of being poorly maintained and funded, in recent times Ashgabat has shifted up a gear, with President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov having signed a decree on the development of Turkmenistan’s navy up to 2015 in 2010. Still, according to SIPRI statistics it has comparatively low levels of defence spending of some $240 million. Nevertheless, Turkmenistan has enhanced its naval capabilities, building a naval base and naval academy in Turkmenbashi, and has bought several Russian and Ukrainian missile boats, as well as Turkish patrol boats. This beefed-up naval force is tasked with ensuring that the country’s interests in the Caspian Sea are protected. In September 2012, for the first time since gaining independence, Turkmenistan conducted a military exercise on the Caspian which was almost certainly aimed at showing that the country is able react to any attack on its oil and gas fields. Turkmenistan holds the world’s fourth-largest natural gas reserves, surpassed only by Russia, Iran and Qatar. Indeed, it is also likely that this naval force upgrade may be designed to match Azerbaijan, with which it continues to have strained relations amid continuing talks with Baku over three disputed fields.

Azerbaijan, meanwhile, has made no secret of its defence spending which is reported to be set at some $3.7 billion for 2013. Baku has purchased a number of capable naval weapons including Gabriel anti-ship missiles and Green Pine radar stations, which demonstrates that Azerbaijan is investing in defence. Still, while Baku has increased its naval capabilities, more focus has been placed on its land and air forces as a result of the security situation surrounding its ongoing conflict with neighbouring Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding occupied territories. Relations between Baku and Tehran also remain tense, not least as a consequence of Azerbaijan’s close ties to Israel and Tehran’s reported efforts to destabilize Azerbaijan by supporting radical Islamic groups in the country. Furthermore, with Iran heading towards presidential elections, Tehran’s feelings of insecurity and paranoia may further increase. Iran’s large (30 million) ethnic Azerbaijani population is viewed as a potential source of trouble and instability and there have been some recent signals that an awakening may be in the offing, including during a recent football match when fans chanted that Iran’s East Azerbaijan province was not part of Iran.

Despite the painful economic sanctions placed on Iran, Tehran continues to have a sizeable naval fleet – although many of the vessels date back to the Shah’s era. Tehran is slowly moving to modernise and spends an estimated $10 billion on defence. Already in control of some 100 missile boats, the Iranian Navy and IRGC regularly carry out exercises including laying mines. In March Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announced that the presence of Iran’s newly-launched, and domestically made, Jamaran-2 destroyer in the Caspian Sea would “guarantee security” in the region. At least two others are planned. According to Ahmadinejad, “without doubt, all neighbouring countries are happy with the Iranian Navy’s achievements because they consider these advancements as a step towards their own security in the region”. Ahmadinejad could not be more wrong. 

Coincidentally, the Iranian destroyer was launched on the eve of the start of bilateral talks between Azerbaijan and Russia on the Caspian Sea delimitation issues.

External actors, in particular the US, have unfortunately added to the tensions. Washington, which has used Baku and Aktau to transit equipment to Afghanistan, has given naval development assistance and training to Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. It has also strongly supported the development – as has the EU – of the TransCaspian pipeline, which has irritated Moscow. The main interest of the US – above and beyond the regions importance vis-à-vis its operations in Afghanistan, would seem to be to keep a geopolitical check on the two major Caspian naval powers, Iran and Russia.

The current militarisation of the Caspian directly affects the whole security architecture of the region. While realistically it seems very unlikely that any of the Caspian states would use their navies against each other, it cannot be totally ruled out, particularly in the event of a military strike on Iran, which would create bedlam in the region.

The current military build-up is detrimental to efforts to increase regional stability and trust. However, with no progress seemingly being made towards resolving the Caspian border and legal status issue, and the region facing many security-related challenges – whether related to protracted conflicts, border disputes or water, unfortunately it seems unlikely that any move towards demilitarisation will take place any time soon. Moreover, there is a risk of further escalation as a consequence of the US pull-out from Afghanistan in 2014, which could possibly exacerbate regional security still further, bringing risks of increased drug and people trafficking as well as the spread of radical Islamists throughout the region.

Armenia hosts drill as tension continues

Yerevan is welcoming 2,000 soldiers from across the ex-USSR for exercises that look set to add to the region’s already-fraught tension

The Russia-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) has launched large-scale military exercises in Armenia amid tension with Azerbaijan over Baku’s pardoning of an extradited Azerbaijani soldier who had hacked an Armenian to death.

Around 2,000 troops from Armenia, Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are conducting five days of war games between Sept. 15 and 19.

But the exercises are occurring amid tension between Yerevan and Baku over the latter’s pardoning and promotion of Ramil Safarov, as well as Azerbaijan’s rapprochement with Europe following NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen’s recent praise of the country and President İlham Aliyev’s trip to France tomorrow.

“The military exercises are unprecedented in the history of the Armenian armed forces,” Armenian Defense Minister Seyran Ohanian said at the launch of the Interaction-2012 sessions. The aim was to create “a regional force that can neutralize potential threats, he said.

The scenario of the maneuvers stipulates the rapid deployment of a force repelling enemy attacks in the mountains. Aircraft and artillery units will also participate, including jet volley fire systems. Other planned exercises include an airdrop of troops and a would-be operation to destroy a gang of militants hiding in a mountain village.

The six-nation CSTO is an intergovernmental military alliance formed in 1992 and comprised of Armenia, Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.

Safarov, who had been incarcerated since 2004 in Hungary, where he murdered an Armenian counterpart at a NATO event, was treated as a hero upon his return and made a major. Yerevan reacted furiously to the pardon and strongly condemned Baku, with Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan saying “making a hero out of a criminal is unacceptable” and accusing Azerbaijan of endangering the region’s fragile peace.

The exercise also comes amid growing closeness between Azerbaijan and Europe. In a recent visit to Azerbaijan, Rasmussen praised oil-rich Azerbaijan for its closer security cooperation with the alliance.

“Our ties are developing steadily and positively,” Rasmussen said after talks with Aliyev on Sept. 7.

The secretary-general said Azerbaijan was a “valuable partner for NATO,” adding that both sides had “an opportunity to build a solid, long-term partnership.” Rasmussen thanked Azerbaijan for its participation in the NATO-led mission in Afghanistan and conveyed the alliance’s appreciation for the country’s additional support given to NATO operations via fly-over rights and transit lines.

Aliyev is heading to France tomorrow. The Nagorno-Karabakh issue will be the main topic of the scheduled meeting with French President François Hollande, according to media reports.

Ankara and Baku also agreed in June to build the $7 billion Trans-Anatolian natural gas pipeline (TANAP) to carry Azerbaijani gas to European markets in what has been perceived as a crucial deal. The project might help Europe diversify its energy supplies by bypassing Moscow, its largest gas provider.

Armenia and Azerbaijan are locked in a long-running conflict over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh, where they fought a war in the 1990s. Negotiators from Russia, the United States and France have led efforts under the auspices of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) since then to find a resolution to the conflict, but with few tangible results.

Armenia 'ready for war' after Azerbaijan axe-killer pardon

Protesters burn a Hungarian national flag during a rally outside the Hungarian consulate in Yerevan.

Armenia warned Azerbaijan it was ready for war as tensions soared between the ex-Soviet foes after Baku pardoned and promoted an Azerbaijani officer who axed an Armenian soldier to death.

Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev last week immediately pardoned Ramil Safarov after he was extradited from Hungary, where he had been serving a life sentence for the 2004 killing.

Safarov was also promoted to the rank of major, given a house and eight years' worth of back-pay after returning home to a hero's welcome, in defiance of assurances from Baku to Budapest that he would serve out his term in Azerbaijan.

"We don't want a war, but if we have to, we will fight and win. We are not afraid of killers, even if they enjoy the protection of the head of state," Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian fumed in a statement late on Sunday.

Safarov hacked Armenian officer Gurgen Margarian to death at a military academy in Budapest where the servicemen were attending English-language courses organised by NATO.

 His lawyers claimed in court that he was traumatised because some of his relatives had been killed during Azerbaijan's war with Armenia, and alleged that Margarian had insulted his country.

Armenia and Azerbaijan are locked in a long-running conflict over the disputed region of Nagorny Karabakh, where they fought a war in the 1990s.

Russia, which is part of the OSCE Minsk Group that is mediating in negotiations to find a peaceful solution to the Karabakh conflict, expressed "deep concern" over the extradition and pardon.

"We believe that these actions of the Azerbaijanis, as well as the Hungarian authorities, go against the efforts agreed at an international level primarily through the OSCE Minsk Group aimed at reducing tension in the region," Russian foreign ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said in a statement.

The EU said Baku and Yerevan should refrain from exacerbating the dispute.

"We call on Azerbaijan and Armenia to exercise restraint on the ground and in public statements in order to prevent any kind of escalation of this situation," Maja Kocijancic, a spokeswoman for EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, told a news conference in Brussels.

Yerevan on Friday cut diplomatic ties with Hungary over the pardon, while US President Barack Obama said he was "deeply concerned" about the incident.

Hungary summoned Azerbaijan's ambassador on Sunday to protest at Baku's decision after earlier saying it had been assured Safarov would serve out his term.

"Hungary finds it unacceptable and condemns the pardoning of Ramil Safarov," foreign ministry state secretary Zsolt Nemeth told ambassador Vilayat Guliyev, the national news agency MTI reported.

Armenia-backed separatists seized Nagorny Karabakh from Azerbaijan in the war that left some 30,000 people dead.

The two sides have not signed a final peace deal since the 1994 ceasefire and there are still regular firefights along the front line. Analysts warn the frozen conflict risks slipping again into full-scale war.

NATO chief praises defiant Baku

Azerbaijan’s Aliyev (L) meets NATO chief Rasmussen amid ongoing tension.

NATO chief has praised oil-rich Azerbaijan for its closer security cooperation with the alliance amid heightened regional tensions due to the pardoning of an Azeri officer who murdered an Armenian counterpart.

“Our ties are developing steadily and positively,” Anders Fogh Rasmussen said after talks with Azeri President İlham Alyiev on Sept. 7.

The secretary general said Azerbaijan was a “valuable partner for NATO,” adding that both sides had “an opportunity to build a solid, long-term partnership.”

Rasmussen thanked Azerbaijan for its participation in the NATO-led mission in Afghanistan and conveyed the alliance’s appreciation for the country’s additional support given to NATO operations via over-flight rights and transit lines.

But Aliyev remained defiant over Rasmussen’s criticism of the pardoning of an Azeri officer who axed to death an Armenian serviceman in 2004 during a NATO training seminar in Budapest. “Armenia is unjustifiably kicking up a fuss over Ramil Safarov’s pardoning,” Aliyev said, arguing that the process was legal and fair.

‘In line with convention’

“Safarov was extradited in conformity with the European Convention [on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons] and his pardoning is based on Azerbaijani legislation,” Agence France-Presse quoted him as saying.

Reiterating his concerns over the incident, the NATO chief said, “The act he committed in 2004 was a crime that should not be glorified, as this damages trust and does not contribute to the peace process.” Rasmussen made the same statement in the Armenian capital Yerevan on Sept. 6, where public outrage over the case has sparked large protests.

Touching on the tensions between Baku and Yerevan, Rasmussen said: “Two things are clear. First, that there is no military solution. Second, the only way forward is through dialogue, compromise and cooperation.” Yerevan has broken off diplomatic links with Budapest, which had been assured by Baku that the killer would serve out his prison term in Azerbaijan.

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan said Sept. 6 that “making a hero out of a criminal is unacceptable” and accused Azerbaijan of endangering the fragile peace.

EU warns Armenia, Azerbaijan against fighting

EU president Herman Van Rompuy on Wednesday urged enemies Armenia and Azerbaijan to end frontline clashes that have raised fears of renewed war over the disputed region of Nagorny Karabakh.

"The European Union calls on both sides strictly to respect the ceasefire and exercise restraint, on the ground and in public statements, in order to prevent a further escalation of the situation," Van Rompuy said in an address to the Armenian parliament.

Ten soldiers were killed last month in clashes along the Karabakh frontline and on the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan -- the worst outbreak of violence for several years.

Armenia-backed separatists seized Karabakh from Azerbaijan in a war in the 1990s that left some 30,000 dead, and no final peace deal has been signed since the 1994 ceasefire.

Van Rompuy said that a peaceful resolution of the Karabakh conflict was "the key to unlocking the region's enormous development potential and the prosperity that it can bring".

He urged politicians to resist "the temptations of populist rhetoric and entrenchment" -- an apparent reference to frequent belligerent statements from both sides.

Azerbaijan has threatened to take back the disputed region by force if negotiations do not yield results, while Armenia has vowed massive retaliation against any military action.