KARABAGH WANTS INDEPENDENCE

ArmenPress
June 10 2004

YEREVAN, JUNE 10, ARMENPRESS: Manvel Sarkisian, an advisor to Nagorno
Karabagh leader Arkady Ghukasian, told a roundtable discussion today
on Nagorno Karabagh conflict that election of a new Azerbaijani
president and a bigger involvement of European organizations in
the regulation process have brought in a new situation that differs
significantly from what there was a year ago. He said resumption of
regular meetings of Armenian and Azeri presidents and the dialogue
between the two countries’ foreign ministers will become a serious
tool in search of a solution that would satisfy all conflicting sides.

Commenting on frequent trips of senior European officials to Karabagh,
Manvel Sarkisian argued it was the evidence of their realizing the
role of Karabagh authorities in the regulation efforts. He replicated
the official Yerevan’s position that involvement of new forces in the
ongoing diplomatic efforts around the conflict was not desirable. “The
main task of Armenia is to ensure the security of Armenians in Karabagh
while the latter’s task is to continue building its statehood,”
he said.