From: MihranK@aol.com
Subject: Karabakh Is a Milestone Of International Law

KARABAKH IS A MILESTONE OF INTERNATIONAL LAW

Lragir.am
21 April 06

On April 21 Stepanakert kicked off parliamentary hearings on the topic
`The Karabakh Issue: Prospects of Settlement.’ The parliamentary
delegation of Armenia, headed by MP Armen Rustamyan, Chair of the
Committee of External Relations, arrived in Karabakh.

NKR President Arkady Ghukasyan is not taking part in the hearings. In
response to the question of Member of Parliament Gegham Baghdasaryan
why Arkady Ghukasyan was not participating in the hearing, Chair of
the Committee of External Relations of the National Assembly of NKR
Vahram Atanesyan said the president was at the final conference of the
military exercise. Foreign Minister of Armenia Vardan Oskanyan’s
schedule was tight, and knowing this, they had not invited him.
Speaker Ashot Ghulyan said parliamentary debates on the Karabakh issue
are becoming more active. The first success in similar debates was
reported in Bishkek. He mentioned that all the political forces have
the same opinion.

Addressing the participants, NKR Foreign Minister Georgy Petrosyan
commended the first parliamentary hearing on the Karabakh issue and
mentioned that the NKR parliament must develop a definite standpoint
on the issue that is directly related to its own future. He emphasized
that the essence of the conflict over Karabakh is that human rights
are not respected. Azerbaijan has constantly attempted to move this
essence to other planes which give rise to conflicts. `If in a
conflict human rights are neglected, it leads to a clash of
interests,’ said the foreign minister. Georgy Petrosyan thinks the
core reason of the present state of things is the following: the
international community, fearing war, refused to recognize the results
of the referendum on the independence of NKR. `It bolstered up the
intention of Azerbaijan to settle an issue of rights through military
means,’ said Georgy Petrosyan. The NKR foreign minister said Karabakh
must blame the international community for such an immoral
approach. It is necessary, for presently proposals are offered at
negotiations which consider the consequences of the war and not
rights, and are restoring the situation to a former status
quo. Instead, guided by their own standards of democracy, the West
should have considered the right of the people of NKR. The West
refuses to recognize the results of the referendum, speaks about a
humanitarian disaster, economic decline in the region, threats of war
voiced by Azerbaijan. As an attempt to overcome this situation, the
foreign minister thinks the mediators should propose the parties to
reassert their commitment to maintaining peace. `At that time it will
become known who uses what arguments,’ he said.

Assessing the present situation, the minister mentioned that Armenia
had to or was forced to become engaged in the talks. The international
community forces Armenia to make concessions, because Azerbaijan is
threatening to wage a war. `The standpoint of Karabakh is clear. We
would not adopt a decision that would contradict to the common will of
people. Every decision must solve all the problems of people who
suffered from the war. Azerbaijan must be recognized as an aggressor,
also against its own people.’ As to the NKR-Armenia relations, the
foreign minister thinks we are two brotherly sovereign states which
can act independently.

In response to Member of Parliament Hmayak Hovanisyan, Georgy
Petrosyan said the president of Armenia informs NKR president Arkady
Ghukasyan about the details of the talks, and for his part, Arkady
Ghukasyan informs the NKR foreign minister. `It does not mean that we
agree to everything, this has an advisory nature,’ said Georgy
Petrosyan. Besides, he also disclosed a secret ` the negotiations are
no longer confidential. `What they are now publishing is true,’ said
Georgy Petrosyan.