YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)–Professor Barry Sanders of the University of New-Mexico–who studies problems of ethnic and political conflicts–visited Karabakh recently. Talking to Noyan Tapan–Sanders said that her visit was organized under the program implemented by the Moscow Caucasian Center. The goal of the program is to study the process of refugee adaptation in society. Professor Sanders also visited Abkhazia–South Ossetia–Tbilisi and Baku.
Sanders said she was greatly impressed by what she saw in Lachin; schools–churches–monumen’s–and a functional community had been established in a mere six years. Professor Sanders visited several refugee families residing in Lachin. "This land is economically poor–but rich in its people," Sanders said.
As for her visit to Azerbaijan–Sanders saw refugees in Baku and the surrounding vicinity–but had no opportunity to visit refugee families. She said the living conditions of the camps she visited were much worse. In addition the process of transition to a normal life has not begun.
This difference can be accounted for by the two countries’ cultural and economic differences. Sanders said that social polarization in Azerbaijan is more conspicuous.