AZG Armenian Daily #064, 08/04/2006

Karabakh issue

EU ALREADY `PONDERING’ OVER POST-CONFLICT SITUATION IN
KARABAKH

Peter Semneby Dissatisfied With Militant Statements

At joint press conference with Vartan Oskanian on
April 5, Peter Semneby, newly appointed representative
of the European Union in the South Caucasus,
emphasized once again that the EU wants to more
actively involve in the process of frozen conflict
regulation. According to Oskanian one of the key tasks
before Semneby is to involve in the Karabakh issue not
as a mediator but as a contributor to the talks
process.

Member of the Swede rescue mission in 1988 earthquake,
Semneby emphasized the difference between his and his
predecessor’s mandates. In general, the EU signals
that it wants a more tangible role in “defrozening”
frozen conflicts. Another distinguishing factor is the
discussion of the EU’s New Neighborhood Action Plan.
Semneby touched upon the importance of using the
so-called window of opportunity of 2006 for productive
negotiations. Based on his meetings in Baku and
Yerevan, Semneby finds that no side approaches the
issue to gain time. Semneby thinks that there will be
no changes in the format of the OSCE Minsk Group.

Armenian foreign minister gave no details on the
Kelbajar issue that turned into a stumbling block in
Rambouillet talks but said that “we failed to settle
the key issue in the agenda but we have to continue
the negotiations because what we have today on the
table contains rather positive elements and we simply
need to build up on them. The remaining issues are the
most complex ones and we have to try to find
solution.” If Azerbaijan is able to display political
will then, Oskanian thinks, it will be possible to
advance in the settlement process and achieve
additional progress in coming months. But if there is
no progress in 2006 that would not be the end of the
world, Oskanian said. Despite elections in 2007
possibility of progress should not be ruled out.

As to the military settlement of the conflict, the
foreign minister said that this conflict has no
military settlement and the best proof is that Armenia
has won the war but the conflict is still there.
“Azerbaijani started war twice and lost both times but
the conflict is not settled. I think this is the best
lesson for Azerbaijan that this conflict cannot be
settled militarily and has to be settled through
negotiations and the only way for that are mutual
concessions.” According to Oskanian, Armenia has made
concessions recently, “we are today on the verge and
have no way to step back. It is the time for
Azerbaijan to take equivalent steps for us to go
forward and reach the finish.”

The European diplomat again expressed dissatisfaction
with Azerbaijan’s militant statements. Semneby
repeated his words uttered in Baku that a new war will
have fatal consequences. “I think that message was
registered in Baku,” Semneby said. Both sides
understand “historic responsibility” in reaching a
settlement in the conflict, he said.

Semneby mentioned in his speech that if the regulation
lingers Armenia’s relative isolation will continue.
Asked if the foreign minister had told the EU special
representative that Armenia can develop with closed
borders too, Oskanian said: “I did not tell him as he
knows about that.”

By Aghavni Harutyunian