Former US Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Richard Hoagland made a sensational statement on the impossibility of a diplomatic solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. He said the only solution to the problem was war.

Hoagland said this in an article published on The International Conflict Resolution Center. He said while the co-chairs were visiting Armenia and Azerbaijan, as well the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh, they were staying in "five-star" hotels and eating at the best restaurants at no extra cost, and living in an apartment with full access to the bars.

However, Hoagland admitted that despite all this, they achieved less outcome. 

The Co-Chair said that during these visits he saw that each side stood firm in its position and did not think of even the slightest temporary compromise.

"I have come to the conclusion that only the war will resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict decisively, although I have never expressed this opinion openly. We continued to adhere to it with the co-chairs, "he said.

It should be noted that the attitude of the Azerbaijani public, as well as the government to the OSCE Minsk Group is ambiguous. In the past, there was hope that  the co-chairs could help solve the problem, but over time, those hopes were dashed. Before the Second Karabakh War, a number of people in our society accused the Minsk Group of being inactive, deliberately prolonging the conflict and protecting Armenia's interests in this conflict. Now it turns out that the Minsk Group co-chairs lied to the world community, as well as to the leadership and public of the two countries about the results of the talks.

Speaking to Eurasia Diary, Avaz Hasanov, expert on conflict studies, said that the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs had always held Armenia and Azerbaijan responsible for resolving the conflict. According to Hasanov, Hoagland's statement on the Karabakh conflict is nothing new.

"Is there really anything new in Hoagland's statement?" What did Hoagland want to explain? Hoagland said that if there was no agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan, it would lead both sides to engage in war. Throughout their activities, the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group put the responsibility on the shoulders of parties to conflict. In many meetings, the co-chairs called on both sides for peace and said they would assist them as mediators if the parties reached an agreement. At the same time, they added if both sides did not resolve the conflict peacefully, then the only alternative way would be war. Therefore, there is nothing wrong with Hoagland's statement and it is a bitter truth. The co-chairs had been repeating this approach for years. However, the Armenian and Azerbaijani societies ignored this approach, "Hasanov said.

It is a fact that the OSCE Minsk Group has not been able to solve the problem and the talks have been fruitless for almost 30 years. Some experts accuse the Minsk Group of inaction, as well hiding the truth.

"The co-chairs have been on this issue as long as they want. But it should also be noted that the OSCE Minsk Group is not a party to power. It does not have any special function. They were mediators. All the responsibility lied on the shoulders of parties. However, unlike Armenia, Azerbaijan was well aware of its responsibility. Yerevan ignored the negotiation process. Understanding the need to implement UN resolutions, Azerbaijan had to resolve its own issue in the 44-day war," he noted.

In conclusion, Hasanov touched upon the issue of continuing cooperation with the OSCE Minsk Group to ensure stability in the region.

"The OSCE Minsk Group was a tool. However, they have now no influence and are out of the game. Currently, the process for the solution of conflict is being carried out between Azerbaijan and Armenia, and Turkey and Russia are in the region. But if we want to use the Minsk Group in any form, we must think about it.  Or if we want to abolish the Minsk Group and create a new format, we must think about it," he added.