NKR AUTHORITIES KEEP TO THEIR STANDPOINT

Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
18 July 05

On June 15 NKR President Arkady Ghukassian gave a press conference
after the recent visit of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs but the
topic of the press conference was not confined to their meeting.
RESOLUTION Naturally, the representatives of the mass media were
interested in the recent statements and comments on the resolution of
the Karabakh issue. In reference to Goran Lennmarker’s report the head
of state mentioned that the boldness of the reporter is commendable,
of course, but it should not arouse surprise because the Minsk Group
co-chairmen and all those who are related to the Karabakh issue in
one way or another (including Azerbaijan) admit that Karabakh is
a conflict side. The denial of this fact by Azerbaijan is just a
political game. “If Azerbaijan avoids recognizing NKR as a conflict
side, this means it avoids the resolution of the issue. The resolution
of the issue is impossible without recognizing Nagorno Karabakh
as a conflict side,” he said. Noting that certain details of the
talks with the co-chairs are confidential and cannot be published,
the president reassured that they did not deviate from the standpoint
of the NKR authorities and the people. “Different statements are made
not only on Lachin but also Shushi and Stepanakert. Lachin cannot be
part of a compromise. Nagorno Karabakh possesses forceful arguments
against this consideration. Lachin is a link of utmost importance
between Armenia and Karabakh. Not going into details, I would like to
note only that we keep to the standpoint of the NKR authorities and
people. No significant changes are to be made by us in the current
state of things,” said the president. He pointed out that there are
positive changes in the position of Azerbaijan which seems to have
adopted a more constructive attitude towards the Karabakh issue. The
statements about setting up relationships between the Armenian and
Azerbaijani communities are also a positive step (if we set aside
the fact that, according to the president, this is another political
game, an attempt to place the Armenian and Azerbaijani communities
on an equal plain). In answer to the question whether the positive
changes in the position of Azerbaijan are caused by the pre-election
moods and everything may change after the parliamentary election
in November, the president said that hopefully there will not be
abrupt changes although he did not exclude the probability either.
“However,” he said, “Azerbaijan is in close touch with various
international organizations, and it will not be easy to take such
a step. Otherwise, I think, the international community will draw a
corresponding conclusion concerning Azerbaijan. Anyway the impression
of the mediators and my impression is that Azerbaijan is trying to
conduct a more constructive policy and speaks for dialogue more often
than for hostility.” PROSPECTS OF COOPERATION WITH AZERBAIJAN As we
have already stated, Azerbaijan made a statement about organizing
meetings of the Azerbaijani and Armenian communities. In reference to
these meetings both on the day of the parliamentary election and during
the press conference A. Ghukassian said that Karabakh is willing to set
up relations. “I think the attempts to place these two communities on
an equal position are useless, nevertheless, I consider any relations
with Azerbaijan useful. However, I repeat, it is absurd to present the
people of Nagorno Karabakh as an Azerbaijani community. It would be
the same if we speak about the Azerbaijani community of Azerbaijan,”
said Arkady Ghukassian. Saying that Karabakh is open for discussions
and negotiations with Azerbaijan, A.Ghukassian said that no relations
worth mentioning have existed between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan
since 1997. Nagorno Karabakh has signed a number of agreements with
Azerbaijan. Since 1994 the talks have been conducted between Nagorno
Karabakh, Armenia and Azerbaijan. But since the beginning of the
meetings of the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan the latter has
avoided direct relationships with Nagorno Karabakh. In reference
to establishing means for communication, the president mentioned,
“The sooner communication is set up, the easier the problem will be
solved. But this step cannot be unilateral, the other party should also
take reciprocal steps,” he said. Recently the settlement of Nagorno
Karabakh territory with the Azerbaijani refugees has been considered
quite often. A. Ghukassian said the issue of the refugees cannot be
considered outside the general context. “I do not exclude the return
of the Azerbaijani refugees, but only after the resolution of the
Karabakh issue. It is early to consider this matter. There cannot be a
one-sided approach towards the issue because there is also the problem
of Armenian refugees, which also needs to be solved.” DOMESTIC POLICIES
The president said considerable work has been done in making the NKR
Constitution. The draft document is ready except certain points which
need additional consideration. In regard with the manpower policy of
the government of the country, A. Ghukassian said the government is
attempting to supply the administration of the country’s government
with quality officials, but there is need for a body which will deal
with this matter. Commenting on the defeat of the opposition in the
parliamentary election, the president said, “The opposition lost a
free, fair election and therefore it should first draw conclusions
from this. We would like them to have more seats in the parliament
but I think that forces represented in the National Assembly are able
to carry on with interesting processes both in the parliament and in
the life of the country.” Since last year the price for grain has
dropped, which may cause serious problems on the grain market. The
question referred to the measures taken by the government to regulate
the price for grain. A. Ghukassian confirmed that the situation
is serious, indeed, and the government attempts to take measures
in this direction. In answer to the question why the president of
Nagorno Karabakh Republic did not react to the incident between the
defence minister Seyran Ohanian and Pavel Manookian, A. Ghukassian
said it is impossible to justify the actions of either S. Ohanian
or P. Manookian. “No matter how unacceptable the behaviour of P.
Mannokian was, the minister of defence should not have acted that
way. The reassuring thing is that the incident appeared in the focus
of public attention, which means it is an exception and not a rule
in the life of the society,” said the president of NKR. Earlier this
year the president had criticized the executive power. In answer
to the question what has changed since then and how reliable the
information conveyed to the head of state is, A. Ghukassian said,
“Although not everything is satisfactory, there is considerable
progress. In any case the president cannot struggle alone; you ought
to help the government. Corruption is greatly spurred by law salaries
and the social state of the people in the country. Nevertheless,
we must fight corruption and uproot this vice from the society with
your support,” said A. Ghukassian.

SRBUHI VANIAN.
18-07-2005