TO GIVE OR NOT TO GIVE THE LAND?

Lragir.am
10 May 06

On May 9, 2006 14 years after the liberation of Shushi we still
tend to wonder if we won or we did not. Nonetheless, the Armenian
establishment does not seem to be certain on where to go, what to
do and how. The evidence to this is the controversial statements
of public officials. “As a native of Mush, I know that we must keep
Karabakh to have Mush. A native of Javakheti knows that in order to
have Armenians living in Javakheti we must first of all keep Karabakh,
not only Karabakh but also Armenia,” said Prime Minister of Armenia
Andranik Margarian May 8 at a ceremony in Stepanakert. “The war imposed
on us showed that it is impossible to solve the problem by means of
war. Yes, we defended our land, we won the war, but we cannot assert
that our peoples, the Armenians and the Azerbaijanis, are happy. This
implies that there must be a political settlement of the issue. The
goal of every one of us must be the prevention of the war. However,
we need to be ready for a war.

Our readiness will prevent resumption of the war,” said NKR President
Arkady Ghukassian. “Can they impose a bitter peace on us?” In answer
to this question, Arkady Ghukassian said, “I do not think they can
impose anything on us. We choose what we want.

And we are not going to choose a bitter peace.” By saying “bitter
peace” in Karabakh they understand recognition of sovereignty of
NKR within the borders of the former autonomous region of Nagorno
Karabakh, return of territories and refugees. On May 9 Defense
Minister of Armenia Serge Sargissian shared his ideas with news
reporters in Karabakh. He reminded that Shushi is a manifestation
of the morale of the Armenian people. He called for bolstering up
this morale. “I disagree that victory is half the job. A victory is a
victory. If one wins a 50 percent victory, it means they did not won
at all. I think Karabakh won a victory,” said Serge Sargissian. In
answer to Lragir.am if he agreed with Goran Lennmarker that peace is
unlikely without the return of territories, Serge Sargissian said,
“The return of territories is a very capacious phrase. What territories
are meant? Stepanakert?”

“No, the territories outside the former autonomous region of Nagorno
Karabakh.” “I believe, especially today, that peace or resolution
should be based on compromise. But compromise suggests reciprocity,”
said the defense minister of Armenia. He mentioned that as 18 years
ago he anticipated Azerbaijan’s recognition of the right of the
people of Karabakh to be independent. The deputy minister of defense
of Armenia Manvel Grogorian announced May 8, “I exclude the return of
the areas. I am ready to prevent the return of the regions whenever
such attempts are made.”