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KARABAKH DOES NOT ALWAYS SUCCEED CONVEYING ITS STANCE
Lragir.am
05-06-2007 19:30:16
NKR President Arkady Ghukasyan said in a news conference on June 5
after he met with the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Miguel Angel Moratinos
at the representation of NKR to Armenia he cannot imagine optimism
unless there is agreement on the status. "The first issue is the
status of Nagorno-Karabakh. It is pointless to discuss other issues
unless there is agreement on this issue. This is our approach,"
says Arkady Ghukasyan.
In answer to the question why the OSCE Chairmen-in-Office, who used
to visit Stepanakert now meets with the NKR leadership in Yerevan,
Arkady Ghukasyan said it is the wish of the guests, and either they
have to accept it or refuse to meet in Yerevan. They accept.
"If I am not mistaken, the OSCE CiO has visited Karabakh only once.
Afterwards, because of shortage of time they say, they ask to meet in
Yerevan," Arkady Ghukasyan says. He does not think it matters much
where they meet, it is important what they talk. Besides, Arkady
Ghukasyan does not think it is tragedy that Karabakh is not taking
part in the talks.
"I cannot remember a single meeting where this issue was not discussed.
Because I think and not only me, I think all of you agree that the
Armenia-Azerbaijan format is a destructive format. And it is not
a logical format. The fate of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh is
concerned, and it is not clear why Nagorno-Karabakh is not involved
in the talks directly," says the NKR president. According to him,
if Armenia and Azerbaijan reach a resolution which is acceptable
for Karabakh, they have no problem. "If you remember I told once let
Spain and Portugal negotiate instead of Armenia and Azerbaijan. If the
independence of Nagorno-Karabakh is recognized and the other issues
are resolved the way we want, we have no problem. But unfortunately
I think this format will not resolve the issue. I am fully convinced
that everyone will acknowledge that this format is not realistic,
Karabakh will take part in the talks by all means. Karabakh is not
involved, therefore no issue is resolved," Arkady Ghukasyan says.
"As to our standpoint, you all know it. Nagorno-Karabakh will
never agree to be part of Azerbaijan. Nagorno-Karabakh will never
give away its independence. The other issues can be discussed,
and we are ready to discuss. This is our principle. If it satisfies
Azerbaijan, I am happy, if not, it is Azerbaijan's problem," Arkady
Ghukasyan says. According to him, not resolving any issue is also a
resolution. "Resolve the issue without resolving any issue, if I may
put it so. This is also an approach, and there are opinions, and I
think the situation must develop so. Our approach is it is impossible
to get 100 percent of what you desire through the talks. It concerns
everyone, Armenia, Karabakh and Azerbaijan. On the other hand, there is
no alternative to the talks. We do not make the agenda of the talks. It
is clear that the mediator must offer a proposal which Armenia and
Azerbaijan will agree to discuss. I do not think I can say more than
the people who take part in these consultations more often. I mean
the Armenian foreign minister first of all. But I repeat we cannot
reject the talks. I mean Armenia and Karabakh. We must be ready for
the talks and try to spell out our stance and defend our stance,"
Arkady Ghukasyan says, repeating that it is pointless to try to go
forward without resolving the issue of the status. He considers it
pointless to discuss the referendum on status because there is no
agreement on these issues.
"In any case, I cannot imagine anyone make a decision behind the back
of people or sign a document which is not in the interests of people. I
am sure there will be nothing of the kind. The negotiations should
be confidential, it is acceptable but if the sides reach agreement,
it must be presented to the publics, the political parties of both
Karabakh and Armenia, and we will make a decision together. We have
a constitution, I mean NKR, and nobody can impose a decision on us
which is not in the interests of our people," says the NKR president.
He says Karabakh does not often succeed conveying its stance and insist
on it in the Armenia-Azerbaijan talks. "There is disagreement, but this
disagreement is not dramatic," Arkady Ghukasyan says in answer to the
question about the possible deviation of the approaches of Armenia and
Karabakh. Arkady Ghukasyan says he does not want to accuse anyone of
conducting the negotiations badly and representing the interests of
Karabakh badly. He waits and advises to wait until the negotiations
end, because the talks are not a unilateral process. "Either you have
to accept the style of negotiation, the logic of negotiation or you
cannot think that you can always insist on what you want because you
do not make the agenda," says the NKR president.
From: Baghdasarian
Lragir.am
05-06-2007 19:30:16
NKR President Arkady Ghukasyan said in a news conference on June 5
after he met with the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Miguel Angel Moratinos
at the representation of NKR to Armenia he cannot imagine optimism
unless there is agreement on the status. "The first issue is the
status of Nagorno-Karabakh. It is pointless to discuss other issues
unless there is agreement on this issue. This is our approach,"
says Arkady Ghukasyan.
In answer to the question why the OSCE Chairmen-in-Office, who used
to visit Stepanakert now meets with the NKR leadership in Yerevan,
Arkady Ghukasyan said it is the wish of the guests, and either they
have to accept it or refuse to meet in Yerevan. They accept.
"If I am not mistaken, the OSCE CiO has visited Karabakh only once.
Afterwards, because of shortage of time they say, they ask to meet in
Yerevan," Arkady Ghukasyan says. He does not think it matters much
where they meet, it is important what they talk. Besides, Arkady
Ghukasyan does not think it is tragedy that Karabakh is not taking
part in the talks.
"I cannot remember a single meeting where this issue was not discussed.
Because I think and not only me, I think all of you agree that the
Armenia-Azerbaijan format is a destructive format. And it is not
a logical format. The fate of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh is
concerned, and it is not clear why Nagorno-Karabakh is not involved
in the talks directly," says the NKR president. According to him,
if Armenia and Azerbaijan reach a resolution which is acceptable
for Karabakh, they have no problem. "If you remember I told once let
Spain and Portugal negotiate instead of Armenia and Azerbaijan. If the
independence of Nagorno-Karabakh is recognized and the other issues
are resolved the way we want, we have no problem. But unfortunately
I think this format will not resolve the issue. I am fully convinced
that everyone will acknowledge that this format is not realistic,
Karabakh will take part in the talks by all means. Karabakh is not
involved, therefore no issue is resolved," Arkady Ghukasyan says.
"As to our standpoint, you all know it. Nagorno-Karabakh will
never agree to be part of Azerbaijan. Nagorno-Karabakh will never
give away its independence. The other issues can be discussed,
and we are ready to discuss. This is our principle. If it satisfies
Azerbaijan, I am happy, if not, it is Azerbaijan's problem," Arkady
Ghukasyan says. According to him, not resolving any issue is also a
resolution. "Resolve the issue without resolving any issue, if I may
put it so. This is also an approach, and there are opinions, and I
think the situation must develop so. Our approach is it is impossible
to get 100 percent of what you desire through the talks. It concerns
everyone, Armenia, Karabakh and Azerbaijan. On the other hand, there is
no alternative to the talks. We do not make the agenda of the talks. It
is clear that the mediator must offer a proposal which Armenia and
Azerbaijan will agree to discuss. I do not think I can say more than
the people who take part in these consultations more often. I mean
the Armenian foreign minister first of all. But I repeat we cannot
reject the talks. I mean Armenia and Karabakh. We must be ready for
the talks and try to spell out our stance and defend our stance,"
Arkady Ghukasyan says, repeating that it is pointless to try to go
forward without resolving the issue of the status. He considers it
pointless to discuss the referendum on status because there is no
agreement on these issues.
"In any case, I cannot imagine anyone make a decision behind the back
of people or sign a document which is not in the interests of people. I
am sure there will be nothing of the kind. The negotiations should
be confidential, it is acceptable but if the sides reach agreement,
it must be presented to the publics, the political parties of both
Karabakh and Armenia, and we will make a decision together. We have
a constitution, I mean NKR, and nobody can impose a decision on us
which is not in the interests of our people," says the NKR president.
He says Karabakh does not often succeed conveying its stance and insist
on it in the Armenia-Azerbaijan talks. "There is disagreement, but this
disagreement is not dramatic," Arkady Ghukasyan says in answer to the
question about the possible deviation of the approaches of Armenia and
Karabakh. Arkady Ghukasyan says he does not want to accuse anyone of
conducting the negotiations badly and representing the interests of
Karabakh badly. He waits and advises to wait until the negotiations
end, because the talks are not a unilateral process. "Either you have
to accept the style of negotiation, the logic of negotiation or you
cannot think that you can always insist on what you want because you
do not make the agenda," says the NKR president.
From: Baghdasarian