Foreign Affairs committee  Again, I know that a lot of people have talked about the concern about a western Azerbaijan and Zangezur corridor, and I defer to my colleagues and the other witnesses. I personally don't see Azerbaijan wanting to do a military incursion. They've spent 30 years with people occupying their territory and not respecting international law.

Foreign Affairs committee  Absolutely. Again, as was pointed out by Professor Altstadt and I would concur, Azerbaijan has felt humiliated for the past 30 years that the international community did not come to its defence and has now seen a double standard, but you're absolutely right. It doesn't help its situation if it's now going to encroach on Armenian territory, let alone kill soldiers or civilians, so obviously it complicates peace.

Foreign Affairs committee  Given that they have social media and the fact that young people in either country can be accessing and communicating with anyone anywhere, I think it's going to take place in both countries. I really do think it's a whole-of-society perspective. Just to go back to your earlier question of when did they have a period when they had peace, I would defer to my colleague, Professor Altstadt, the historian.

Foreign Affairs committee  Yes, that's a very good question. I was racking my brain for that as well. I was thinking, would Australia perhaps be...? Again, from having been in Azerbaijan, the last time I was there I saw some Japanese development projects that were taking place. Could Japan somehow be positioned?

Foreign Affairs committee  It's a very good question. The most I know is by looking at Red Cross or other documents that come out. My understanding is that both sides do have some prisoners. As to whether they call them criminals, I would say that more call them prisoners, but my understanding is that it's both sides.

Foreign Affairs committee  It's very good question. I think it would be extremely difficult. If you go back to the Soviet period—which, again, my colleague Professor Altstadt, the historian, would underscore as well—and if you look at the North Caucasus during the World War II period, the Soviets manipulated those borders and moved populations, populations that are still trying to come back and peacefully integrate.

Foreign Affairs committee  I want to commend Canada again for taking an interest in the situation and wanting to commit resources. I can't comment personally on how the $3.9 million is being spent. All I can recommend, as I mentioned at the end of my remarks, is that I do think there has been a tendency for countries to pick sides with respect to this.

Foreign Affairs committee  Yes, that's a very good question and a very difficult question. In terms of what I think would actually achieve a lasting peace, I'll give you something from my personal experience spending two years living in the country from 2006 to 2008, when I was doing research for my Ph.D. dissertation, spending time in school and literally sitting in history, civics and constitution classes.

Foreign Affairs committee  These are all excellent points. With respect to cultural sites, I think that both sides, Azerbaijan and Armenia, would be in agreement that cultural sites need to be protected. For the past 30 years Azerbaijanis have wanted to make sure that their cultural sites in Shusha and other areas are protected, so I think protecting Armenian cultural sites would be absolutely something that would be upheld.

Foreign Affairs committee  I apologize for not getting my earpiece up quickly enough with the first question. Yes, discussion of a greater western Azerbaijan could complicate peace agreements. However, I think we have to remember, if we're going to look at both sides and be fair to both sides, that Armenia has for a long time talked about a greater Armenia, which would extend not just into Azerbaijan but also into different states.

Foreign Affairs committee  Thank you. Again, I haven't been on the ground in Armenia, so I can't say over the past two months what has taken place there. From what I've followed by looking at UNHCR and others, the government has done a very good job of taking care of people as best they can. People are not living in tents.

Foreign Affairs committee  Thank you. I think they could be a good mediator. They have essentially been a de facto mediator between the two countries for the past 30 years. You also have ethnic Armenian and ethnic Azerbaijani populations who have been long-term residents in the country and have peacefully co-existed there.

Foreign Affairs committee  Is the question about Georgia and why it's refusing to act in terms of mediation with respect to its territory?

Foreign Affairs committee  Georgia is a complicated situation. As I mentioned, it has ongoing disputes with Russia with respect to Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which comprise 20% of its territory. There's been a discussion of the 3+3 agreement between Turkey, Russia and Iran, and Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia.

Foreign Affairs committee  It's a very good question. I don't know, personally. To be honest, it would be too soon, at this time, to determine that. I come from having looked at the internally displaced persons situation in Azerbaijan. It has been 30 years now. I spent two years in the country about 15 years ago, and I went back with the World Bank multiple times.