IF NAGORNY KARABAKH PROVES TO BE PART OF AZERBAIJAN BY SOME MIRACLE,
THERE WILL REMAIN NO ARMENIAN: ARMENIAN DM

YEREVAN, MARCH 30. ARMINFO. Establishment of two Armenian countries is
within the interests of the whole Armenian people, says Defense
Minister, Secretary of the Presidential National Security Council
Serzh Sargsyan speaking at hearings on Karabakh in the Armenian
Parliament today. The optimal formula of Karabakh’s status is a single
Armenian people – two Armenian states, the minister says.

In his speech, the minister says that both successes and definite
difficulties have been fixed in the sphere of foreign policy in
Armenia. However, it is necessary to draw lessons from the experience
achieved. That is why the Armenian nation, state and non-state
structures must consolidate their potential to counteract the cynic
and sly rival, which enjoys Turkey’s support, Serzh Sargsyan says. In
this connection, we should regularly specify our approaches to
Karabakh issue and the current parliamentary hearings are a good
example for it.

Speaking on the genesis of the conflict, the minister says that the
first stage of the conflict started yet in the period of Royal
Russia. He says that the second stage was of hidden nature and was in
the Soviet period of time. In that period Azerbaijan exerted a hidden
pressure on Karabakh people and already in 1987 various signals were
received in Nagorny Karabakh and Azerbaijan from the Central Committee
of the CPSS i.e. NKR people was advised to fight for its self-
determination while the Azerbaijani authorities were advised to
protect the territorial integrity and not to let Karabakh people to
push itself around. Sargsyan says that Sumgait, Baku and other pogroms
were organized with consent of USSR authorities. However, already in
1991 the Karabakh people has become self-determined o the basis of the
USSR legislation on the order of withdrawal from a Union Republic and
held a referendum of independence in conformity with international
norms with participation of international observers.

As regards the issue’s presentation in the international arena, he
points out the importance of creation of scientific works which will
contribute to presentation of the real essence of the conflict and
creation of a positive image of the Armenian people. He says that 4
scenarios of the conflict’s settlement have been on the negotiation
table during the whole process – NKR’s joining Armenia, independence
of Nagorny Karabakh, establishment of a common state in the territory
of Azerbaijan, a high status of autonomy of Nagorny Karabakh as part
of Azerbaijan. Proceeding from the principles of security and
democratic development of NKR, the Armenian party has insisted on the
principle of self-determination of the Karabakh people. Meanwhile,
Azerbaijan supports its territorial integrity and is ready to provide
high status of autonomy. At the same time, Armenia’s position in
settlement of the conflict has not changed – it keeps insisting that
NKR cannot be part of Azerbaijan or an enclave, and that it is
necessary to secure land borders with Armenia, NKR’s participation in
international processes, high guarantees that Azerbaijan will not
resume military actions, the minister says. He says that if a common
agreement is reached around these principles, a single concept of
presenting Karabakh issue in the international arena can be
elaborated.

The minister says that Karabakh conflict differs from other conflicts
in the post-Soviet space just by the fact that NKR has gained
independence in conformity with the laws and international legal
norms. And a reasonable use of this argument can form a favorable
attitude of the international community to the people of Nagorny
Karabakh, the minister says.

He says that at the initial stage of the conflict Azerbaijan could
solve it in a peaceful way. However, it preferred starting military
actions and transforming the problem into an armed conflict. It
becomes clear that if Nagorny Karabakh proves to be part of Azerbaijan
by some miracle, there will remain no Armenian. As regards the enclave
existence of NKR, it is evident that Karabakh will not be able to
develop and exists without borders with Armenia. It cannot integrate
into international processes either, the minister says. At the same
time, Sargsyan points out the importance of deepening democratic
processes in NKR. Otherwise, Karabakh people may loose the disposal of
the international community and efficiency of the negotiation process
depends on the skilled comparison of public and nonpublic parts of the
settlement, the minister thinks. He also says that a bill on the
concept of national security will be presented by 2007, which will
indicate exclusively peaceful way of settling the Karabakh conflict.