INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY’S IGNORING KARABAKH POPULATION’S DEMOCRATIC ASPIRATIONS IS NOT CONSTRUCTIVE, V.OSKANIAN SAYS

Noyan Tapan
Dec 05 2006

BRUSSELS, DECEMBER 5, NOYAN TAPAN. RA Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian
made a speech on December 4 at the OSCE Foreign Ministers’ Council
sitting being held in Brussels. The Minister spoke in his speech about
the OSCE reforms, presented Armenia’s position, then touched upon
priorities of deepening democracy in Armenia, economic achievements
and development of the state. Touching upon the negotiations proceeding
round the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement, the Minister mentioned:
"We are well aware that the world observes our region arising of other
reasons as well. Nobody wants to reach the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
settlement as much as we do. The Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents’
last meeting gave us hope that it is still possible to reach agreement
even on those principles concerning which we still have difference of
opinions. We know that the long-lasting solution will depend on the
Nagorno Karabakh people’s status and security. The conflict started
when their security was subjected to violence, and their right to
self-determination was defied. The discussed principles attempt to
satisfy the Nagorno Karabakh people’s right to self-determination,
at the same time, liquidating consequences of the conflict. We
expect that Azerbaijan, really, will find will to recognize and
respect the Nagorno Karabakh people’s own rights to decide its own
future, status, security system. The constitutional referendum will
be held in Nagorno Karabakh in few days. Political institutes were
created, authorities were formed with the means of elections, the
legislative field developed in Nagorno Karabakh during the recent
15 years. They understand the necessity of the fundamental law and
accept that the referendum is the only admissible way to universally
adopt that law. The international community’s ignoring the Karabakh
population’s democratic aspirations as well as accusing them of being
democratic is not constructive. Azerbaijan’s insistences that holding
of the referendum will lay obstacles for the negotiation process,
are far from the reality. But the real obstacle is their intolerant
response to democratic actions of Karabakh, their refusal to involve
Nagorno Karabakh in the negotiation process, repeated martial calls
and efforts to avoid the Minsk Group negotiation process."

Within the framework of the OSCE Foreign Ministers’ meeting, the
Minister had a number of bilateral meetings: with Daniel Fried, the
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State; Urmas Paet, the Foreign Minister
of Estonia; Jean Asselborn, the Foreign Minister of Luxemburg; Noul
Treacy, the Ireland State Minister on European Issues; Lobo Antunes,
the Portugal State Minister on European Issues; Bernardo Leon, the
Spain State Secretary for Foreign Affairs; Marc Perrin de Brichambeau,
the OSCE Secretary General; Goran Lenmarker, the OSCE Parliamentary
Assembly Speaker. The RA Foreign Minister’s meeting with the OSCE
Minsk Group Co-Chairmen also took place. As Noyan Tapan was informed by
the RA Foreign Ministry’s Press and Information Department, the OSCE
Foreign Ministers’ Council sitting will discuss the OSCE reformation
package on decisions concerning strengthening of the OSCE efficiency,
including the OSCE regulations. It is expected that, particularly,
the decision on the organized crime, decisions concerning illegal
circulation of small and light armament, OSCE future transport
dialogue, struggle against intolerance and discrimination and
concerning spreading mutual respect and mutual understanding will
be agreed.