Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

BAKU: David L. Phillips: Using The Nagorno-Karabakh Problem As Polit

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • BAKU: David L. Phillips: Using The Nagorno-Karabakh Problem As Polit

    DAVID L. PHILLIPS: USING THE NAGORNO-KARABAKH PROBLEM AS POLITICAL TOOL HAS DONE ENOUGH HARM
    T. Teymur

    Today
    http://www.today.az/news/politics/60 771.html
    Feb 3 2010
    Azerbaijan

    Interview with American expert, visiting scholar of Columbia
    University, David Phillips.

    The date of April 24th which is a "genocide" day for Armenians is
    coming closer. Many believe there will be some activeness coming from
    Turkey, concerning the protocol ratification. What, in your opinion,
    may be happening on this date, or close to it?

    The Protocols represent a bilateral agreement between Turkey and
    Armenia. There is no linkage to Nagorno Karabakh. This was expressed
    by Prime Minister Erdogan to President Obama when they met last April.

    It was widely perceived last year that Turkey was heralding its
    signing of the protocols to effect international recognition of the
    Armenian genocide. I don't think anyone will be interested in that
    happening again.

    The Constitutional Court of Armenia accepted the Ankara-Yerevan
    protocols, but with some reservations. Turkey claims that the protocols
    must proceed the way they first were presented. Now, how do you
    assess the decision of Armenian court to change the protocols? Do
    you believe that such course of events can actually damage the whole
    ratification process?

    Only opponents of the Protocols have identified differences between
    the Constitutional Court's decision and the text, as far as I am
    aware. Even those perceived differences are not significant overall.

    The United States joined with others in hailing the Court's decision
    as a necessary and positive step toward ratification. Inaction has
    already been damaging and will ultimately undermine the historic
    opportunity represented by the Protocols.

    Media reports say the meeting of Armenian, Azerbaijani and Russian
    presidents in Sochi were positive. What, in your opinion, should be
    expected next on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict issue?

    It is important that both sides continue to meet at a high level and
    work sincerely towards resolution. This impasse has gone on for too
    long. Displaced Azeris should be able to return to their homes in the
    provinces surrounding Karabakh and the international community should
    do its part to create conditions of security and support rehabilitation
    of communities affected by conflict. Continuing to use the issue as
    a political tool has done enough harm. Constraints imposed on contact
    and cooperation between civil society representatives also undermines
    confidence building and progress.

    There's an expert opinion in Yerevan that the Armenian government is
    not only not interested in actually doing something to resolve the
    Karabakh conflict with Azerbaijan, but is also unable to do it. How
    can you comment on that? How true is it?

    This perception is incorrect. The Armenian government has stated
    both publicly and privately that they are willing and able to
    solve the problem. Since the status quo isn't in their interest,
    there's no reason to think otherwise. The United States is highly
    motivated to make progress. It is working through the Minsk Group and
    bilaterally with concerned government to resolve issues concerning
    Nagorno-Karabakh. The Obama Administration has made clear its
    commitment to multilateralism. The cooperation of other countries,
    especially Russia, is essential.
Working...
X