Europe, USA lobby Armenia to settle Karabakh problem – paper

Aravot web site, Yerevan
28 Sep 04

September entitled “Like a bolt from the blue” and subheaded “At
meetings with political party leaders, Western European diplomats
said that the Karabakh problem should be resolved on the basis of
Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity”

We have obtained details of a series of meetings between ambassadors
of European Union member countries [to Armenia] and representatives
of the National Unity Party, where the Karabakh settlement and ties
between Armenia, Azerbaijan and Turkey were in the focus. Concrete
issues were discussed, which testifies to the fact that European
structures, in all probability, have already drawn up proposals which
will be submitted to the conflicting sides in the near future.

The German ambassador, Heike-Renate Peitsch, paid special attention
to these issues and held a lengthy conversation with the leader of
the National Unity Party [NUP], Artashes Gegamyan. On 24 September,
the NUP leader also met the deputy chairman of the Assembly of the
Western European Union and head of the Italian delegation to the
union, Marco Zacchera (he visited Armenia as part of his regional
trip aimed at drawing up a report on the South Caucasus countries),
the Italian ambassador to Armenia, Marco Clemente, and (?Floris Dego),
a representative of the assembly of the European Security and Defence
Identity.

Serious debates of processes that could take place in the region
and possible challenges and, in this context, Armenia’s potential
role were discussed. Although members of the delegations said that
the Karabakh problem should be resolved on the basis of compromises,
they nevertheless noted that they recognize Azerbaijan’s territorial
integrity and this should be a major principle in the settlement.

In turn, Armenia, it goes without saying, should put forward its
position and make it clear if it has an ally in this issue which
supports its approaches and is ready to reject the principle of
territorial integrity publicly backed by almost all countries. By
strange coincidence, almost at the same time, European countries
started kind of lobbying – the secretary-general of the Council of
Europe, Terry Davis, presented his report [on Nagornyy Karabakh],
and the US co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group, Steven Mann, issued a
statement on inadmissibility of delaying a settlement to the conflict.

Dose this show that the moment when they will force us to settle
the Karabakh conflict is approaching? Artashes Gegamyan agreed with
this. “Western European countries and US diplomats never do anything by
chance, they always demonstrate tested and coordinated approaches,” the
NUP leader said. “It is noteworthy that after meeting me, Zacchera and
Clemente were to meet ambassadors of European Union member countries.”

Gegamyan also commented on the report by Terry Davis, which, he said,
the Armenian authorities are trying to go round by all means. “The
report mentions four UN Security Council resolutions which recognize
Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and the necessity of withdrawal
of Armenian troops from the liberated lands,” Gegamyan said. “No
comment is needed if we take into consideration Davis’s statement
that if the talks are deadlocked, the problem could be submitted to
the International Justice Court.”

The NUP chairman said he was bewildered that “the Armenian authorities
are dealing with insignificant issues and are trying to involve
the opposition in their discussions”. “How can they at this crucial
moment for the country deprive the opposition of opportunities to
debate these issues with officials live on TV so that the public is
informed about a possible turn of events. Alas, the authorities are
again playing bizarre games behind people’s back and one day they will
tell us about their decision like a bolt from the blue,” Gegamyan said.