ARF bureau representative: There is misrepresentation that Armenia is
losing in Karabakh talks

16.06.2005 16:32

YEREVAN (YERKIR) – Commenting on the current stage of the Karabakh
conflict negotiations process, Armenian Revolutionary Federation
(ARF) Bureau representative Hrant Margarian told a news conference on
Thursday that it is wrong to create a defeatist environment in Armenia.

Margarian Margarian said his impression is that on the one hand the
international forces pressure Azerbaijan to accept that Karabakh (and
probably Lachin, too) should be joined to Armenia, and on the other
hand they pressure Armenia to accept that the liberated territories
should be returned to Azerbaijan.

“I don’t believe there is an Armenian who wants the liberated
territories to be reutnred,” Margarian mentioned. “But I admit that
the issue can be touched upon during the talks process for tactical
reasons, but when Azerbaijan refuses at all to consider the issue
of ceding Karabakh to Armenia de jure — on the contrary, militant
rhetoric prevails in Azerbaijan — then I don’t understand why are
we creating a seemingly defeatist mood among our people?

This is unwise, to say the least. Our people have paid a big price
for the liberation of Karabakh and will not let anyone surrender
territories.” He added that concessions should not include such
issues as Karabakh’s sovereignty, national identity and today’s
factual borders.