POLICY OF HINDERING TALKS

Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
26 Nov 04

“And if Azerbaijan, nevertheless, does not give up its undertaking in
the UN, it will have to continue negotiations with Karabakh,” said the
foreign minister of Armenia during the joint press conference with
the Italian vice foreign minister Margaret Boniver in Yerevan. On
November 24 the undertaking of Azerbaijan on the situation in
the so-called “occupied territories” was to be discussed by the UN
General Assembly. Making the territories adjacent to Artsakh a topic
of discussion at the UN Azerbaijan practically created a foreign
political crisis for itself. Just remember that the OSCE, EU, United
States have criticized the non-constructive position of Azerbaijan. The
foreign minister of Armenia Vardan Oskanian touched upon the official
position of Armenia at the press conference. “Our position in the UN
is clear. We find that Azerbaijan commits a mistake by taking such
a step, and if the resolution is passed, some time later they will
recognize that they were mistaken,” said Vardan Oskanian. The vice
foreign minister of Italy, touching upon the same question, said that
hopefully the delegation of her country will abstain, and will vote
in accordance with the common standpoint of the EU. Nevertheless,
if the resolution set forth by Azerbaijan is passed, it is not known
who will profit and how. Nevertheless, Mr. Oskanian asked not to
worry regarding it as a mere political process. According to him,
there would be reason for anxiety if the document tried to determine
the fate of Karabakh. Moreover, the Parliamentary Assembly of NATO
assumed that there are three conflict sides – Azerbaijan which tries
to maintain its territorial integrity, Karabakh which tries to maintain
its right for self-determination, and Armenia which backs Karabakh. The
minister of foreign affairs of Armenia assured that if, nevertheless,
the resolution is passed, “we will continue to take part in the talks
but the main talks will be with NK.” Thus Azerbaijan will have to
recognize Nagorni Karabakh as a conflict side. According to the article
7 of the resolution the UN will suggest the OSCE Minsk Group sending a
multinational mission to the “occupied territories” of Azerbaijan. In
this reference Mr. Oskanian mentioned, “We have always appealed to
international organizations to visit and give their evaluation to
those territories. The Minsk Group has this mandate but the UN does
not have such an experience to come and fulfil a mission.” Touching
upon the settlement of people in those territories, Oskanian said,
“There are people who went to live there as they anticipate the
liberation of their homes in Shahumian and Getashen.” In answer to
the question whether it is possible that the UN or NATO documents on
NK are later used against Armenia, Vardan Oskanian said, “If decisions
are made on the future status of NK, it will be dangerous, of course,
but there is no report or resolution containing decisions. There are
evaluations of the present situation. There is a point in the NATO
resolution, which is favourable for us – the conflict has three sides,
NK, RA and Azerbaijan.” Nevertheless, if suddenly Azerbaijan gives up
the undertaking of discussion the problem of Nagorni Karabakh at the
UN, the foreign minister of Armenia assured that Armenia will be ready
to resume the process of Prague during which the foreign minister of
Azerbaijan Eldar Mamediarov and he achieved certain arrangements.

CHRISTINE MNATSAKANIAN.

26-11-2004