SOLUTION IS POSSIBLE THROUGH DIRECT TALKS ONLY

Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
03 March 05

The press conference of the NKR foreign minister Arman Melikian in
Yerevan evoked lively reaction in Armenian press. Several foreign mass
media and news agencies also responded to the press conference. Here
are certain details of the press conference. `Reuter’ The NKR National
Assembly informed that they are going to make a statement on
recognition of independence of NKR. Do you think it is real or not?
What concessions is NK willing to make? `First of all, the NKR NA
addressed the Republic of Azerbaijan, as well as the parliaments of
other countries of the world appealing to them to recognize the
independence of NKR. As to the possible compromises on the part of
Karabakh, these can be made only through negotiations. Today we do not
negotiate directly with the Republic of Azerbaijan and it is early to
speak about any compromises.’ Newspaper ` Azg’ In your opinion is
Karabakh party in the talks and if yes, howis the participation of
Karabakh expressed? During your press conference in Stepanakert you
said that the Karabakh party was actually left out of the talks. Was
itby the fault of the Republic of Armenia? `I see no need to look for
the guilty. There is a certain situation. At on time the present
format of talks used to contain certain logic. I cannot tell either
that NKR was left out of the talks. We are informed on how the talks
are carried out between Armenia and Azerbaijan. And during the press
conference in Stepanakert I said that the settlement of the problem
can be achieved only by direct talks between NKR and Azerbaijan and I
can confirm this once again.’ `De Facto’ Whatpositive points do you
see in the PACE resolution on Nagorni Karabakh? `This interesting
question is raised often. Of course, there are negative points for us
in the resolutionbut there is a new approach: the Azerbaijani
authorities are called upon to start a direct dialogue with the NKR
authorities. In certain sense this testifiesto the rightness of the
viewpoint that bilateral negotiations between Azerbaijan and NKR may,
in fact, be effective.’ `Mediamax’ Yousaid you are informed on the
negotiations going on between Armenia and Azerbaijan. To what extent
is the Karabakh party satisfied with the content of the `Prague
process’, to what extent is it acceptable for NK? `On the whole, today
technical problems are concerned. I repeat that the settlement of the
issue is, in our opinion, inthe direct negotiations between Azerbaijan
and NKR. It is NKR that can assume responsibility for both the
problems of territories and refugees, and theseare the primary
problems that interest Azerbaijan.’ `BBC Azerbaijani’ A dangerous
tendency for the Armenian party is arising: the world is gradually
forgetting about the cause of the conflict and speaking about its
consequences. What steps are taken in this direction? Azerbaijan is
carrying on a powerful campaign propagating the consequences. We
announce that we are going to do excavations in the vicinity of
Shushi, and Azerbaijan is going to lodge complaint with different
international organizations. `I do not know anything about the
excavations. As to the problem of causes and consequences of the
conflict, we have our approach to this question. We start from the
fact that there was Soviet Azerbaijan which was divided into two
states after the collapse of the Soviet Union; one of these was
NKR. Then the war began, which was also the consequence of
Azerbaijan’s not recognizing the independence of NKR, that is to say,
we have the cause of the war. Then Azerbaijan lost the war, and we, as
the result of the war, have today’s picture. We may make a clear
distinction; theprimary problem is that of the status which was not
recognized by Azerbaijan at thetime and resulted in the war, and we
have the problem of consequences of the war which is a real topic for
negotiations to be discussed by the parties for achieving a mutual
understanding.’ `H1′ What obstructs direct negotiations between NK and
Azerbaijan? Why definitely was this press conference organized? `NKR –
Azerbaijan negotiations will begin when Azerbaijan wishes to
participate in them and realizes their necessity. So far Azerbaijan
has been trying to accuse Armenia of aggression. Those people who took
part in or witnessed the military actions are well aware of what heavy
burden is laid over the shoulders of the people of NKR. As to the
problem of today’s press conference, it isjust the first acquaintance
with you the journalists. `Francepress’ What definite steps are made
in the direction of international recognition of NKR? `Thefirst step
was made inside the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The ministry works
onthe legislation on foreign policy. We have already drafted several
bills, such as the bills on NKR international contracts, diplomatic
and consular services,as well as we are going to join several
international conventions, which are also directed at the solution of
the conflict. The bill on NKR citizenship was drafted and soon will be
offered for discussion, which we consider important for several
reasons. From the ideological point of view we emphasize the article
which refers to all the Armenians of the Republic of Azerbaijan. We
think that in certain sense and directly NKR is responsible for all
the Armenians who became refugees. The law provides for the right of
these Armenians to become citizens of NKR. As a recognized or not
recognized country NKR has all the legal and moral bases for defending
the rights of these people when solving their problems with
Azerbaijan. The bill is ready, details of technical characterare
discussed presently. In the upcoming month the bill will be offered
for discussion’ `Noyan Tapan’ Recently minister V. Oskanian said that
NK and not Armenia is to make a request for sending a fact-finding
group to the regions of Getashen and Shahumian, because Armenia has no
relation to this. Is NKR going to make such a step, and won’t this be
the first step in involvement of NK in the negotiations? `I consider
the mentioned problem in a larger context, which does not exclude the
possibility of such a step. Now we are only discussing this
step. After coming to a decision we shall decide on whether to act in
this or in a larger context. Thus, the adoption of the problem of NKR
citizenship in this case is a larger context than the question of
Getashen and Shahumian, which includes your question as well.’ `Noyan
Tapan’ You spoke about the prospects of NKR to join international
conventions. In what way can NK join those conventions? Which
conventions are concerned? `The fact of not being recognized does not
prevent us from joining international conventions. A convention isan
international law, and if we make that law an internal one, it means
we have already joined the law. We shall also inform the international
community onthis. Whether accepted or not is not our problem in this
sense. Two of the conventions, the Vienna conventions on diplomatic
and consular relationships, will be offered to the National Assembly
for discussion next week.’ `Arminfo’ How would you comment on the news
about forming a coalition of not recognized countries? `I cannot
comment on it because we do not have such a point on the agenda.’
`Liberty’ What developments may take place in the process of
regulation of the NK conflict? `Let us start with the report of David
Atkinson, what consequences it may give rise to. Indeed, it has both
positive and negativepoints. I emphasized one: I tend to think that
the international community is coming to the idea that bilateral
negotiations may prove effective. It is a problem that cannot be
settled in a single day. In our turn we must show that we are willing
to participate in the talks, we are able to express opinions on the
problems discussed, which may be powerful enough to maintain
peace. This isalso a process, and we must view everything in the
framework of the process.’ A1+ In your opinion, how will the upcoming
elections in NKR pass? Will they be as democratic as or even more
democratic than the elections in Armenia in 2003? `We want the
elections to be democratic. We shall do our best for them to be
transparent and fair. As fair as we want them to be. You know that
recently elections to the local authorities took place in NKR, and
both the government and the opposition were satisfied with their
transparency and results. This is a vivid fact. We shall try to
conduct the next elections on a higher level.

AA.
03-03-2005

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress