GHUKASYAN: PARTIES SHOULD RUN CERTAIN RISK TO SOLVE KARABAKH CONFLICT

Pan Armenian News
06.09.2005 03:12

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ President of Nagorno Karabakh Arkady Ghukasyan
does not consider forecasts on the prospect of solution of the NK
conflict within 2005 realistic. “There are many issues that are
not arranged yet,” the NK leader told journalists in Yerevan after
a meeting with OSCE Chairman-in-Office Dimitrij Rupel September
5. At the same time the NKR leader positively evaluated the fact
that official Baku “speaks of referendum on the NK status.” In
Mr. Ghukasyan’s words, earlier Azerbaijan did not touch upon these
issues at all. “Today Azerbaijan works in a more constructive field,
than earlier, however is it hard to imagine a material progress yet,”
he noted. The NK President considers that the meetings at the level
of Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan, as well as FM of the two
countries cannot substitute for the OSCE MG format, which provides
for participation of Stepanakert representatives in the talks. Having
given a positive evaluation to any contacts between leaders of Armenia
and Azerbaijan, Ghukasyan considers that “it is hard to solve the NK
problem without participation of Nagorno Karabakh.” The fact that the
OSCE Chairman-in-Office meets with NK leaders means we make part of
that format,” he underscored. As A. Ghukasyan told journalists, he
has drawn the attention of the OSCE leader to “militarist statements
of the Azeri President.” “I think Aliyev this way fulfills domestic
political tasks, however on the other hand this hampers overall
process, as by solving domestic issues Aliyev becomes entrapped by his
own statements,” Ghukasyan noted. “To solve the conflict the parties
have to run a certain risk – give something to get something. Today
Azerbaijan is not ready to such risks. It seems to them that they can
get everything, however it is impossible. We realize that unpopular
decisions may be made. However, these unpopular decisions should refer
to everyone – not only us. We are ready to pass our part of the way,
if Azerbaijan does the same,” Ghukasyan stated. Answering a question
what can be an unpopular decision for Karabakh people, Ghukasyan
stated, ” There is a category of people in Nagorno Karabakh today,
for whom even talks with Azerbaijan are not popular.” Touching upon
the supposition that the NK status can be a step beyond independence,
A. Ghukasyan said, “I cannot imagine that option – it is the same as
being a bit pregnant,” reported IA Regnum.