AZG Armenian Daily #177, 16/09/2006

Karabakh issue

`FROZEN CONFLICTS’ NEVERTHELESS ON UN AGENDA

After the presentation of "Ways of Settling Nagorno Karabakh Conflict"
book at the National Assembly on September 14, foreign minister Vartan
Oskanian answered journalists’ questions.

First, he spoke about sending Armenian peacekeepers to Lebanon. In his
words, there is no decision at this moment as is not clear what tack
the participating forces will carry out. Before the last Israeli
hostilities in Lebanon, Beirut asked Armenia to send bomb-disposal
specialists as Armenia has experience in this sphere. Later, when
Israel will provide maps of mined territories and the situation will
be put under control, Armenia can help in this sphere.

To a remark that it’s the Armenian community’s request to see Armenian
peacekeepers in Lebanon, the FM said: "There are many other factors,
too. We consider the community’s call and we are in a dialogue with
community representatives. I’m sure that a right decision will be
taken at the end. Such issues are not an end in itself. Our going
there should serve a distinct purpose. As soon as this purpose is
specified, Armenian government will take its decision."

Mr. Oskanian informed that different countries have officially applied
to Armenia to take part in peacekeeping mission in Lebanon. That issue
is currently being discussed.

When will the Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers meet? The
co-chairs are seriously discussing the prospects of FM’s meeting but
again we insisted that these meetings should not be an end in
itself. We are ready to meet at any moment but we need the right and
favorable atmosphere in order to produce results. Azerbaijan is
constantly trying to divert the focus from the Minsk Group. This is a
fact. You know that the UN Chief Committee turned down GUAM’s "Frozen
Conflicts" proposal, but the General Assembly put it on the UN agenda
with one prevailing vote. Here we have a situation when the spotlight
shifts from the Minsk process, that’s why the meeting of FMs is under
question until there is clear understanding what direction the Minsk
processes will take. Azerbaijan makes every effort to deface the
content of Minsk Group documents most of which have been agreed on,
including the issue of self-determination. Azerbaijan probably wants
to step back, and diverting attention from Minsk process in favor of
the UN seems a way out for them. Therefore, we need to asses the new
situation and only after that decide what our next steps will be.

To daily Azg’s remark that Arkadi Ghukasian thinks that our diplomacy
should get more active as Azerbaijani diplomacy is attacking, Vartan
Oskanian said: "I don’t know who is attacking and who is
defending. Generally speaking, I don’t think our results are bad; I
don’t feel the need of changing our strategy."

By Marietta Khachatrian