USA REPORTEDLY PERSUADES ARMENIAN LEADER TO SIGN KARABAKH ACCORD
Iravunk, Yerevan
16 May 06
Text of report by Armenian newspaper Iravunk on 16 May headlined
“Americans ask to wait a little”
According to a source close to US diplomatic circles, over the
recent two months US diplomats have met the so-called pro-Western
representatives of Armenia several times. During those meetings the
Americans asked Armenian opposition leaders not to carry out intensive
work against the government till the end of June.
The Americans explained their position by their hope that a document
on the Karabakh issue would be signed between [Armenian President
Robert] Kocharyan and [Azerbaijani President Ilham] Aliyev before that
time. They told the leaders of the opposition that they had carried
out serious work to make the signing of the document possible and
that there were all grounds to believe that Kocharyan would fulfil his
promise given to Americans. Therefore, Americans think that possible
anti-Kocharyan work of the opposition may become a serious obstacle
to implementing the US plans.