PEOPLE WILL RISE AND SAY NO
Lragir, Armenia
Nov 30 2006
The implementation of the right for self-determination should be
absolute and maximum regarding the Karabakh issue. Karabakh has
the right to use this right at the highest level, stated Armen
Rustamyan, representative of the ARF Dashnaktsutyun Supreme Body
November 30 at the Friday Club, thus formulating the stance of the ARF
Dashnaktsutyun. "Our goal should be the full implementation of this
right, which supposes two addressees – the international community
and Azerbaijan," Armen Rustamyan says. If agreement is reached with
Azerbaijan based on this principle, it will be the utmost and the
ideal, Armen Rustamyan thinks. If not, efforts should be made for the
recognition of the right for self-determination by the international
community.
What does the ARF Dashnaktsutyun think about the statements of official
Yerevan on returning the territories, even though it stresses the
condition of settling the question of status? Armen Rustamyan declined
to give a clear answer. "The territories are de facto guarantees for
the central function of sustaining military security performed by
the territories around NKR. We must choose a starting point not to
weaken the guarantees of security existing today. Today, in fact, we
have a certain state of guarantees. These guarantees are not definite
because if these were definite, it would not occur to Azerbaijan to
frighten us with militaristic statements.
These guarantees are not sufficient, but at least we should not take
steps to lose what we have today," says Armen Rustamyan, adding that de
factor security should be reinforced by guarantees of de jure security,
based on the law of nations.
However, Karabakh’s participation is essential to achieving something,
Armen Rustamyan believes. Armen Rustamyan thinks it is nonsense
that Karabakh is a conflict side but not a negotiating party. To the
question if the governments of Armenia and Karabakh make sufficient
efforts for the engagement of Karabakh in the talks, Armen Rustamyan
gives a reassuring but indirect answer. "Recently this question
has been discussed intensively, and I have to say that I can see
breakthrough regarding this problem, a process is underway to make
Karabakh a full-right party of the talks.
These problems are offered to Azerbaijan every time, these problems
are raised at international rostrums, and get an adequate perception
because this absurdity is clear to everyone – to be a conflict side
but not to be a party in the talks," says the representative of the
Supreme Body of the ARF Dashnaktsutyun. According to him, there are
questions only Karabakh should speak about, namely the status, the
territories, and the return of refugees. Armenia has no credentials
on these questions, Armen Rustamyan thinks. In this case is the
president of Armenia trespassing on the credientials of Karabakh when,
for instance, he states on Al Jazeera about returning territories,
what should be given and what should not be given? It becomes clear
from the answer to this question that Robert Kocharyan’s statement is
diplomacy. "The president of Armenia, the other officials can make
different statements depending on the situation, the nature of the
talks, the diplomatic necessity. These should not be confused, after
all the final settlement must be what it must be. These may differ
so there is no need to go ahead of time," says the representative
of the Supreme Body of the ARF Dashnaktsutyun. He states that the
settlement is the question which cannot be solved without the agreement
of the people of Karabakh, and the agreement should be expressed by
popular voting.
The news reporters reminded Armen Rustamyan that the referendums in
Armenia are never popular, although the turnout is the highest ever.
His answer resembled a confession. "This is not the case when a
referendum can be held by a scenario written beforehand. If people say
no, but they turn it into yes, people will rise saying no," stated
the representative of the Supreme Body. And if they beat again like
they usually beat demonstrators, the news reporters reminded Armen
Rustamyan. "We have been beaten since 1988 for this question, it’s
not news," he answered.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
