VARDAN OSKANIAN: THE TALKS TODAY ARE AT A CRUCIAL POINT
Tatul Hakobyan

"Radiolur"
29.08.2006 16:25

Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian delivered a speech at the
"Caspian Prospects 2008" forum organized jointly by the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs of Slovenia and the Lyublyana Center for Strategic
Studies.

During the discussions on the EU New Neighbors Policy, the Foreign
Minister particularly emphasized the importance of implementation
of the European Neighborhood Policy for the establishment of peace,
stability and development in the region.

Officials from a number of countries gathered in Lyublyana, Neighboring
Azerbaijan was represented by President Ilham Aliev.

In a press conference after the meeting between the Presidents of
Azerbaijan and Slovenia, Azeri President Ilham Aliev declared that
"Currently the negotiation process proceeds in the framework of the
Prague format, which generally envisages phasic settlement of the
question. We consider that it is the most acceptable way, and we hope
that at last Armenia will demonstrate constructive position and will
apply efforts to resolve the issue."

Certainly RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian also turned to the
Karabakh settlement, to be more precise, to the current state
of negotiations. The Minister underlined that the settlement is
hindered by Azerbaijani policy of resolving the question in a military
way. Oskanian said that the talks today are at a crucial point, and
the international community should do its best to have Azerbaijan
return to a realistic and constructive field in order to discuss the
principles put on the bargaining table today.

Let’s remind once again that June 22 OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs
actually disclosed the last package of suggestions, the so-called
framework agreement discussed by Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents
in Ramboulliet and Bucharest.

To remind, the basic points of the agreement envisage that Armenian
forces should be gradually withdrawn from the Azeri territories
bordering Nagorno Karabakh, special approach should be demonstrated
towards Kelbajar and Lachin regions, the final legal status of
Nagorno Karabakh should be determined via referendum or a general
vote. International peacekeeping forces should be deployed in the
conflict zone.

The Armenian side has been repeatedly stating that the suggestions
are not ideal. Nevertheless, Yerevan accepts these as a basis for
negotiations.

However, two months after the publication of the document Baku has
not said a decisive "yes" or "no" to the mediators. It is obvious,
though, that this time also Azerbaijan does not consider the suggested
principles acceptable and tries to get a better document or to freeze
the settlement of the issue and anticipates to reinforce its positions
through oil dollars.