The OSCE Minsk group is unable to settle the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Tomas de Vaal, British expert, senior associate in the Russia and Eurasia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace said in an interview to Regnum news agency.

He said having been created 20 years ago, the Minsk group does not reflect the changes registered during these years in the region.

“The states have become stronger, the EU has started playing a significant role in the region. The Minsk Group is doing everything not to lose the control over the situation but it is not the process able to solve the issue,” he said.

According to him, the international community has not forgotten the NK issue, but it has become secondary for it now. The conflict is not being solved because of disputes between the conflicting parties. “If the conflict settlement depended only on Washington, Moscow and Europe, even in case of existence of serious disputes over the territories, the parties could have managed to reach agreement,” he said.

Referring to the talks over possible resumption of war, Tomas de Vaal considered it hardly probable as it does not stem from the interests of the conflicting parties with the military forces under strict political control.

“Of course, Armenia is interested in maintaining the status quo, as it has won in the war. Azerbaijan is building a strong state, new armed forces. It addresses serious means for the military needs, but will not take the risk now,” the British expert said, adding that the situation may change after a while either because of external or domestic crisis.

He also expressed opinion that Baku does not want to solve the issue in a military way but through increasing its military expenses to show Yerevan that it cannot compete anymore and force it to concessions at the negotiations.