Armenian minister dubious about Azerbaijan’s security guarantees for Karabakh

Yerkir web site, Yerevan
15 Feb 05

Armenian Defence Minister Serzh Sarkisyan doubts that Azerbaijan can
give solid security guarantees to Nagornyy Karabakh if Yerevan agrees
to cede some of the territories. In a question and answer session
on Armenian daily Yerkir’s web site, Sarkisyan accused Azerbaijan of
attempts to put pressure on Armenia in the peace talks. The minister
also warned against a possible US attack on Iran, saying that it might
cause “an explosion” in the region. The following is an excerpt from
the transcript of the session as published by Armenian newspaper
Yerkir web site on 15 February and headlined “Armenia: Challenges
and Responses”; subheadings have been inserted editorially:

Dear readers,

You had an opportunity to put questions to the secretary of the
security council under the Armenian president and defence minister,
Serzh Sarkisyan, on the web site of the daily Yerkir between 31
January and 5 February 2005. Below is the full text of the interview.

The editor-in-chief of Yerkir newspaper, Spartak Seyranyan, thanks
you for your active participation.

Truth about Karabakh distorted

[Question] Mr Minister, could you please comment on the report on
Karabakh by the rapporteur of the Parliamentary Assembly of the
Council of Europe, David Atkinson?

[Sarkisyan] I do not support those who think the report meets Armenia’s
interests. Actually, the report is unfavourable to us. Nevertheless,
there is no tragedy. This once again indicates that up to now we have
not convinced Europe’s international organizations that the truth
has been distorted though common principles are fair. The truth is
that Karabakh gained its independence under the Soviet constitution,
i.e. in conformity with laws and international norms, and Karabakh was
subjected to aggression after that. From the outset of the Karabakh
movement, we have demonstrated to the world that our movement is
democratic and just.

A new generation of politicians and diplomats has emerged in
Europe. Either they have forgotten the causes and the history of
the Karabakh conflict or they know nothing about it at all. Our
aim is to explain the genuine essence of the matter to the new
generation. [Passage omitted]

Azerbaijan’s security guarantees for Karabakh in question

[Question] How does Armenia view the resolution of the conflict
within the framework of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity? What are
Yerevan’s terms for the resolution of the conflict in accordance with
the said principle?

[Sarkisyan] Official Yerevan has never hidden its conditions. They
are the following: First, Karabakh should never be under Azerbaijan
since it is obvious that in this case not a single Armenian will
remain in Karabakh. Second, Karabakh and Armenia should have a common
land border, for the simplest reason that Karabakh cannot exist as an
enclave. Third, there should be solid security guarantees for Karabakh
or for the non-resumption of the war, since if the security belt is
lost or conceded, both Karabakh and Armenia will become vincible from
a purely military point of view. [Passage omitted]

[Question] Azerbaijan is offering highest security guarantees for
the coexistence of the Armenian and Azerbaijani communities. What
are your country’s guarantees in this regard?

[Sarkisyan] Unfortunately, throughout history we have witnessed what
guarantees Azerbaijan can give. [Passage omitted]

The matter should be resolved on the principles of justice, and
equal and normal relations should be established then between our
peoples. [Passage omitted]

[Question] How much do you rely on sincerity of Azerbaijan’s intentions
and position in the peace talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan?

[Sarkisyan] Frankly speaking, I want to believe very much that
Azerbaijanis, at least those who are participating in the talks,
are sincere. But unfortunately, I have doubts when in the process of
the negotiations Azerbaijan makes efforts to put pressure on Armenia
through the media and other structures.

As a rule, hostilities are stopped for the period of negotiations.
Negotiations aim to demonstrate a desire to find ways out of
the existing situation, in our case, on the basis of mutual
compromises. However, when pressure is exerted, the opposite side’s
sincerity is in question. If the Azerbaijani leadership thinks that
pressure is more effective than talks, I think they are engaged in
self-deception and are mistaken. They only encourage us to toughen
our position. [Passage omitted]

[Question] Can the issue of the liberated territories be resolved
unfavourably to the Artsakh [Karabakh] people under foreign pressure?

[Sarkisyan] No doubt, the Karabakh problem will be resolved exclusively
on the basis of mutual compromises. It is a fact that by creating a
security zone in 1992-94, we did not pursue the aim of expanding the
territory of Karabakh or Armenia. If by conceding this security belt,
we shall be able to achieve more security for the Karabakh people, then
this issue could be debated. However, if this is simply a voluntary
handover of the territories without enhancing security guarantees for
Karabakh, simply the handover of something, then I think that there
are no such intentions. [Passage omitted]

[Question] Mr Minister, could the hostilities in Karabakh resume?

[Sarkisyan] On the whole, the defence minister has no right to rule out
the possibility of the war resuming. I think should the Azerbaijani
army’s combat readiness be higher than that of the Armenian army and
should the international community approve of this step, then the
threat of war would be real.

US attack on Iran may cause “explosion”

[Question] What are the specific aspects of Armenian-Iranian military
cooperation?

[Sarkisyan] We have no military cooperation with Iran. The defence
ministers of the two countries have paid mutual visits which were
limited to consultations on security issues.

[Question] Does the Armenian leadership believe that force could
be used to settle disagreements between the USA and Iran? Will a US
attack on Iran have a negative impact on Armenia and Karabakh?

[Sarkisyan] We have high hopes that no military action will be taken
against Iran and no new hotbeds of tension will emerge in the region
in the immediate vicinity of the Armenian border. Military actions
in Iran are dangerous since any tension, especially hostilities,
might cause an explosion. We hope that US-Iranian relations will
improve and the existing problems will be resolved peacefully.

[Question] What would be Armenia’s official position if the USA wants
to hit Iran from Armenian territory?

[Sarkisyan] This is a hypothesis. Actually, we hope this will not
happen and problems will be resolved peacefully.

Armenia cannot use Russian military hardware

[Question] Does Armenia have the right to use the Russian military
hardware deployed in Armenia?

[Sarkisyan] In general, Russia has not deployed military hardware on
Armenian territory. Russian troops are deployed at Russian military
bases, and we have agreed that military hardware cannot be stationed
without a solid reason and Armenia’s consent. We cannot use the
Russian military hardware because Russia owns it.

However, we should bear in mind that the two countries’ security
system is regulated by agreements, and both the Russian military bases
and military hardware are integral parts of Armenia’s security, and
part of the military equipment, for example the air defence system,
is used jointly by the Collective Security Treaty Organization member
countries.

[Passage omitted]