Armenian opposition leader says positions “conceded” in Karabakh talks

Mediamax news agency
9 Mar 06

Yerevan, 9 March: The leader of the Democratic Party of Armenia and
member of the opposition Justice bloc, Aram Sarkisyan, believes that
Armenia “has conceded many of its positions” in the negotiating
process on the settlement of the Karabakh conflict.

Speaking at the National Press Club, Aram Sarkisyan said that
“following the talks in Key West [in the USA], the appetite of the
Azerbaijani side has been growing by the day”. Sarkisyan believes that
several years ago, “the Azerbaijani authorities were psychologically
ready to lose Nagornyy Karabakh and recognize its independence de
facto”, but “the Armenian side was dilatory”.

Commenting on the meeting between the Armenian and Azerbaijani
presidents at Rambouillet [10-11 February], Sarkisyan said that the
leaders of the two countries had promised the [OSCE Minsk Group]
co-chairing countries [Russia, France and the USA] to sign a document
on the settlement of the conflict, “but did not do so and caused the
disappointment of the super powers”.

Aram Sarkisyan believes that Armenia cannot recognize the independence
of the Nagornyy Karabakh republic [NKR] because “back in 1989,
Armenia’s Supreme Assembly made a decision on the reunification of
Armenia and Nagornyy Karabakh, which hinders the official recognition
of the independence of the NKR”.