From: MihranK@aol.com
Subject: Karabakh Political Forces Are Against Every Proposal

KARABAKH POLITICAL FORCES ARE AGAINST EVERY PROPOSAL

Lragir.am
22 April 06

During the parliamentary hearing in Stepanakert the NKR political
forces expressed their standpoint on the principles of settlement of
the Karabakh conflict. The co-chair of the Azat Hayrenik Party
(“Free Homeland”) Arthur Tovmasyan, considering
the present situation, offered the Minsk Group to suspend the talks
for a while and attempt at the establishment of an atmosphere of
confidence between the two parties. He emphasized the importance of
promotion of democracy in the settlement of the issue.

Vahram Atanesyan, the leader of the Democratic faction, asserted that
the resolution must be based on the self-determination of the Karabakh
people and their right to build a state in their
homeland. “NKR must proclaim its territorial integrity
within the borders that the NKR people will decide,” he
said. The majority party in NKR is against mixing the question of
recognition of NKR with the question of Karabakh-Azerbaijan
border. Vahram Atanesyan said the question of borders must be settled
by an agreement between Azerbaijan and Karabakh. In this context he
emphasized the importance of engagement of Stepanakert in the talks.

Armen Sargsyan, a representative of the opposition alliance
ARF-Movement 88, also emphasized the engagement of NKR in the
talks. The Armenian Revolutionary Federation suggests dominance of NKR
on the liberated territories. For the deployment of peacemaking
forces, Armen Sargsyan thinks these forces are stationed to either
intervene in military actions or to maintain an agreement. These two
conditions cannot be found in the area of conflict over
Karabakh. Armen Sargsyan mentioned that the return of refugees and
territories will cause a misbalance in the region.

Despite their core idea of internationalism, Hrant Melkumyan, First
Secretary of the Communist Party, is absolutely against the return of
refugees and territories. He mentioned that the Communist Party would
endorse good relations between the peoples of Karabakh and Armenia but
each in their country.

Listening to all these speeches, Member of Parliament of the National
Assembly of Armenia Hmayak Hovanisyan said it turns out the political
forces of Armenia reject the current agenda of talks between Armenia
and Azerbaijan.