Karabakh security chief accuses Azerbaijan of stalling peace talks
Golos Armenii, Yerevan
7 Dec 04
Text of Regnum news agency report published by Armenian newspaper
Golos Armenii on 7 December and headlined “Canada and Brasil are not
under Azerbaijan’s control either, but they do not stop prospering
because of this”
An interview with the secretary of the NKR [Nagornyy Karabakh Republic]
Security Council, Karen Baburyan.
[Regnum correspondent] How wise was the raising of the problem of
“occupied territories” at the UN by Azerbaijan?
[Karen Baburyan] I think this initiative of Baku is very inexpedient
and non-constructive. This kind of behaviour may be explained
by Azerbaijan’s desire to introduce itself as a victim of the
conflict. But the Armenian party has stronger reasons to raise in
the UN the problem of aggression on the part of Azerbaijan and mass
violation of the rights and freedoms of the NKR citizens by it. By all
means Azerbaijan is trying to thwart the fulfilment of any humanitarian
actions on the territory of Nagornyy Karabakh. It aspires to deprive
the population of the NKR of the link with the rest of the world. It
tramples on the main rights and freedoms outlined in the human rights
declaration. I think that the world community and the UN will regard
these problems if the Armenian party raises them.
[Correspondent] Do you think it is necessary to engage other
international structures in the Karabakh settlement process?
[Baburyan] No, I do not think so. Professionals should deal with any
business. The structures that are entirely engaged in the process
should resolve delicate problems such as conflicts settlement. The
OSCE Minsk Group has been dealing with the Karabakh conflict seriously
and for a long time, it has worked out distinct approaches. The Minsk
Group co-chairmen know all the hidden aspects of the problem as well,
they are aware of the so-called undercurrents. For this reason,
today it is the most competent international organization in this
sphere and one should not hinder its activity.
[Correspondent] What is hindering the Karabakh settlement process in
the first place?
[Baburyan] Lack of common sense in Baku. The anti-Armenian hysteria
that is being stirred up in the mass media of Azerbaijan does not
promote reconciliation of the parties. Moreover, it makes that
impossible for two-three generations to come.
I would like to say that all the epithets used by Azerbaijan in this
case, such as “uncontrolled territories”, are evidence of the fact
that de facto Azerbaijan has reconciled itself to the loss of these
territories. There are no uncontrolled territories as such. As for
the territories that Baku means, they are under the control of the
NKR authorities. But they are not controlled by Azerbaijan, which
is a different matter. But Canada and Brasil are not controlled
by Azerbaijan either, but they do not stop prospering because of
this. I think that the real way to make the Karabakh settlement process
constructive is to sit at the negotiating table where Nagornyy Karabakh
is the main player. In other words, there is no universal settlement
to the Karabakh problem without the participation of the NKR in the
negotiating process.