AZG Armenian Daily #147, 20/08/2005

Karabakh issue

ALIYEV: STEP-BY-STEP REGULATION IS THE ESSENCE OF PRAGUE PROCESS

Ilham Aliyev, according to Azeri mass media, emphasized at a
yesterday’s meeting with journalists that the progress in Nagorno
Karabakh issue achieved in course of talks is significant but it
gives no guarantee for peace as “positions of the sides still have
serious differences.” The Azeri President noted that the essence of
the Prague Process is the step-by-step regulation; “occupied lands
should be liberated in the first phase”, then the sides can reach a
mutually acceptable decision in conflict regulation.

The Armenian side does not claim that the Prague Process suggests
step-by-step regulation. The foreign minister of Armenia stated on
December of 2004, “We tend to preserve the right of Artsakhi people
on self-determination and we can be flexible as regards deadlines of
final decision”. “The right of self-determination of Artsakhi people
should be documented. We shall struggle to the end and will not sign
any agreement without confirmation of that fact”, Vartan Oskanian said
adding that realization of self-determinacy should not necessarily
happen at once.

Comparing comments by Aliyev and Oskanian, we may conclude that Armenia
is ready perhaps together with Azerbaijan to eliminate all consequences
of the war in the first stage, i.e. to return controlled territories
and refugees, revive communication and discuss the final status of
Nagorno Karabakh in the second stage, which is to come in 10-15 years.

By Tatoul Hakobian

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress