WikiLeaks: Aliyev Says “Sword of Damocles” of April 24 Hangs Over Karabakh Process

WikiLeaks website has released another document referring to Armenia-Turkey relations and Nagorno-Karabakh.
According to a cable, Azerbaijani leader Ilham Aliyev shared his views on the Karabakh conflict and Armenia-Turkey reconciliation during his meeting with U.S. Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Bill Burns.
The “Sword of Damocles” of the April 24 Armenian Remembrance Day is hanging over the Nagorno-Karabakh process, Aliyev said.
“Burns stressed that the U.S. believes that progress on the Turkey-Armenia protocols could create political space for Sarkisian to be more flexible on Nagorno-Karabakh (NK). He continued that the reverse was also true, that a failure of the Turkey-Armenia process would almost certainly result in serious negative consequences for the NK process. Aliyev said that NK progress would require a minimum of five or six months. He suggested that the entire Turkey-Armenia protocol ratification process be delayed until after April 24,” the document reads.
Azerbaijani president is quoted as saying, “If there were no deadline, maybe we could see how to combine our efforts (to resolve NK)”.
“Aliyev pushed back with his usual warnings about the negative effects of Turkey-Armenia protocol ratification without being proceeded by NK progress. He darkly predicted postponement of any NK settlement; no comprehensive regional security improvement; damage to Turkey-Azerbaijani relations; no real partnership between Turkey and Armenia; further isolation of Central Asia; the undermining of energy projects; and damage to Georgia, both in lost transit income, but also in its role as the sole land corridor between Russia and Armenia,” the document says.
Aliyev complained about Armenians’ suggestion to determine precise date of a referendum on final status of Nagorno-Karabakh.
“This, Aliyev argued, undermined the entire framework of the agreement, which is premised on an eventual referendum (with no definite timeframe) in exchange for legalizing “the illegally established regime in NK.” He also noted that Armenia is vulnerable to isolation because it is dependent upon remittances from its Diaspora, as well as imports of gas and electricity. “After 18 years of negotiation, we have tested all options. If this phase (of Minsk Group talks) ends, what is next?” the President asked aloud,” the document mentions.
As to Medvedev’s involvement in the Karabakh peace process, Aliyev said he was convinced his efforts have been sincere.
According to WikiLeaks-released document, Aliyev also supported Iran’s economic isolation and believed it could be effective if enforced by a broad coalition.