Armenian foreign minister praises president’s Council of Europe speech

Hayots Ashkarh, Yerevan
25 Jun 04

Headlined “The president called things by their names”

An interview with Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan. He comments on
President Kocharyan’s speech in Strasbourg.

[Hayots Ashkarh correspondent] Mr Oskanyan, how was Robert Kocharyan’s
speech received?

[Vardan Oskanyan] Certainly, we are still to hear the response of
different deputies, but I have the impression from my direct contacts
that the president’s speech was very well received. Because it was a
bold and multilateral speech. The president touched almost on all the
problems that worry us and the Council of Europe. Kocharyan touched on
our obligations to the Council of Europe, on the recent events in
Armenia, Armenian-Turkish relations and Karabakh. I think that the
speech’s greatest point was that Robert Kocharyan really called things
by their names. It really was quite a bold speech. And I should say
that such boldness is positively received on the whole, if it is frank
and based on facts. It was an unprecedentedly good speech and the
first impression was positive.

[Correspondent] Different analysts and officials always mention that,
for instance, Armenia’s position on a Karabakh settlement is not fully
clear to the Council of Europe. What do you think, have the
question-marks been removed by Kocharyan’s speech?

[Oskanyan] I think they have. The problem is not that Armenia did not
specify its positions until today. But it was done on different levels
and for different reasons and it was not done fully. But their
expression at such a high level and in such an important institution
has really put a full stop to all the problems. And in this sense it
really answered numerous questions. Moreover, the president spoke from
the point of view of morals and was in quite strong positions, as the
boldness of the speech also required a certain progress by our country
over these years.

[Correspondent] During this visit the president met different Council
of Europe leaders. As a direct participant in those meetings, how
would you describe the whole atmosphere?

[Oskanyan] In the course of all those meetings President Kocharyan was
speaking confidently and frankly. And here the general principle was
that we have nothing to be ashamed of, to defend or justify. We think
that very positive steps were made. Yes, there are shortcomings, but
we surely know where we are going and we shall fulfil the obligations
that we undertook, as they are not only the desire or demand of the
Council of Europe, but also our political will, which stems from the
interests of our state and people. This was the general principle and
during the meetings a very open and frank dialogue took place.

[Correspondent] Mr Oskanyan, may the appointment of Terry Davis, the
rapporteur on the Nagornyy Karabakh issue, to the post of
secretary-general of the Council of Europe reflect this organization’s
role in the settlement process? Is it possible that from now on the
Council of Europe will have a more important and pivotal role in the
settlement process?

[Oskanyan] I do not think that the appointment of Terry Davis as
secretary-general or the fact that he was the rapporteur on Nagornyy
Karabakh may become grounds for the whole organization to be more
active in a settlement. Anyway, the Karabakh issue is on the agenda of
the Council of Europe. On one hand, Terry Davis’s appointment is
positive in the sense that during this last year he got deeper into
the problem. When they touch on the problem we shall know that we are
dealing with a person who knows the problem very well and can consider
it more objectively. He was in Karabakh and in the region. So I feel
positive about the fact that the newly appointed secretary-general of
the Council of Europe has dealt with the Karabakh issue in some sense.