YUNUSOV: KARABAKH CONFLICT SHOULD NOT BE TREATED AS MATHEMATICAL PROBLEM
Pan Armenian News
06.09.2005 05:01
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “There have been many options of Nagorno Karabakh
settlement (“common state,” “stepwise resolution,” “package one,”
etc.), however these are not the core in actual fact. One must
not treat the settlement of the Karabakh conflict as solution of
a mathematical problem,” head of the Department of Conflictology
and Migration of the Institute of Peace and Democracy Arif Yunusov
stated in an interview with PanARMENIAN.Net. In his words, the
fate of two – exactly two and not one – peoples is the point. The
solution should be in a form that, in case of not satisfying, would
not cause a mass negative response of any of the parties. “Why is the
current stage doomed to failure? It is based on the proposal to hold
a referendum. Maybe after certain time has passed, but the holding of
it. Formally, it is a quite democratic proposal. However, our societies
are not democratic and one should clearly understand it. E.g. Azeri
authorities at first tried to conceal the fact of the referendum
itself. When they did not manage it, they tried to pretend as if there
is nothing important here and it is not known what will be taking place
in our region in 10-15 years. Having observed the negative response
to the idea of a referendum, our FM stated there will be no referendum
and it is provocation of certain forces. I.e. this crucially important
issue is concealed from own people,” the Azeri expert noted. On the
other hand, A. Yunusov added, the Karabakh conflict has to do with the
mentality of both peoples. “Materials are often published in Armenia,
saying that authorities make the situation in Azerbaijan tense, while
people “do not with to fight for alien Karabakh.” It is a thoroughly
erroneous opinion.” In his words, “authorities write much about lost
lands in Armenia, however, this does not find a serious response in
the hearts of Azeris, as indeed there is no serious connection with
contemporary Armenia in the Azeri mentality.” “And there is such in
case of Karabakh. The same is true concerning the Armenian identity
regarding Karabakh. Thus, the settlement of the conflict should be
a not traditional one. I do not see a solution of the kind at the
moment. I suppose simultaneous to democratization – a real one, not
a declarative one – the solution of the kind will be found. First of
all, simultaneous to the strengthening of the institutions of local
government bodies (municipalities) and communities. In other words,
we need to get rid of soviet or eastern political system as soon as
possible and transfer to western political system. Then the borders
will stop playing a key role,” A. Yunusov summed up.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress