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Armenian Minister Says Karabakh Settlement Hinges On Azeri Concessio

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  • Armenian Minister Says Karabakh Settlement Hinges On Azeri Concessio

    ARMENIAN MINISTER SAYS KARABAKH SETTLEMENT HINGES ON AZERI CONCESSIONS

    Noyan Tapan news agency
    14 Mar 06

    Yerevan, 14 March: Armenia cannot sit idle while Azerbaijan is
    making official statements that if it does not get what it wants
    at negotiations it will make no concessions and get what it wants
    militarily, Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan has told
    the Azg newspaper website, commenting on the Armenian president's
    statement that should the negotiations fail, Armenia will recognize
    the independence of Artsakh [Nagornyy Karabakh].

    "Azerbaijan must understand that if Armenia sees that Azerbaijan
    has made a conclusion like this, Armenia will also take steps which
    may have negative consequences for Azerbaijan - from recognizing
    Karabakh to drawing up a new defence doctrine which will permanently
    put Azerbaijan on the defensive," Oskanyan said.

    Asked about "the criteria for the failure of the negotiations",
    Oskanyan said: "Today the negotiations are at a stage when Azerbaijan's
    position will be crucial, i.e. we can start making decisions only after
    we know whether Azerbaijan is ready for concessions. If Azerbaijan
    does not make a concession on the issue discussed at Rambouillet,
    it will mean that Azerbaijan continues to stick to its maximalist
    position, which will not resolve the problem.

    Therefore, the main criterion depends on Azerbaijan."

    Asked about what this step [recognition of independence] would give
    Armenia and Artsakh, Oskanyan said: "The recognition, of course,
    is a political instrument, which I think will be used on time, and
    the president meant precisely this. If you remember, the president
    said clearly in his interview - when Azerbaijan finally decides to
    resolve the problem militarily, Armenia will reserve the right to
    make changes both in the political and defence spheres."
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