«RECOGNITION OF NAGORNO KARABAGH IS AN IMPERATIVE»

16-03-2007 10:10:41 – KarabakhOpen

Interview of NKR Deputy Foreign Minister Masis Mayilian to REGNUM IA

REGNUM: Mr. Mayilian, what are currently the most urgent issues in the
Nagorno Karabagh foreign policy?

M.M. The most topical issue of the Karabagh diplomacy is the legal
recognition of the Nagorno Karabagh Republic. I would say it is an
imperative. All the other goals and consequent actions are aimed at
achieving the NKR recognition by the international community. However,
it should be realized that the lack of recognition doesn’t belittle
our independence and all-sufficiency. As you know, according to the
international law, recognition by other states has a declarative and
not constituent significance. At the same time, the recognition of the
Nagorno Karabagh Republic will mean an important step on the way of
NKR joining the international community, and will help involve the
Republic in the regional integration processes. Surely, we face
certain difficulties on our way to the recognition, the overcoming of
which defines the range of our current goals.

Our diplomacy has the classical goals similar to the majority of the
world countries: ensuring the people’s security from any possible
foreign threats, via political and diplomatic means. In our case, the
unresolved Azerbaijani-Karabagh conflict is a grave challenge. NKR, as
a party to the conflict, is interested in establishing a dialogue with
Azerbaijan in order to create neighborly relations. But Azerbaijan
displays no interest in this, which testifies to its non-readiness for
resuming grave and constructive dialogue with Nagorno Karabagh. To
continue the consultations between Armenia and Azerbaijan is very
important, as it contributes to reducing the tension in the region,
but everybody realizes that for achieving considerable results this
format should be transformed into trilateral, and the sooner the
better.

In the existing situation, it is important for us to maintain the
strategic balance in the region, ensuring peace and stability in the
South Caucasus.

We have also another goal – to create a positive image for NKR abroad,
and increase the investment attraction of the Republic.

REGNUM: What is the main reason of excluding Nagorno Karabagh from the
negotiation process under the aegis of the OSCE Minsk Group, and what
should be done for resuming the negotiations in their full format? Is
Nagorno Karabagh ready to defend its positions at tete-a-tete
negotiations with Azerbaijan?

M.M. First, I’d like to note that the negotiation process is currently
suspended, and the parties hold consultations on searching ways of
resuming the negotiations under the mediation of the OSCE Minsk
Group. As of the very negotiations in the frameworks of the Minsk
process, NKR representatives always participated in them till their
suspension in April 1997.

Currently, Nagorno Karabagh doesn’t participate in the consultations
held between the officials of Armenia and Azerbaijan, which is caused
by the Azerbaijan party’s non-readiness for contacting with official
Stepanakert. The negotiations’ resumption in the trilateral format is
not an end in itself for us. For establishing a dialogue, the concern
and political will of all the parties involved in the conflict are
needed. The parties should realize it themselves.

As of the Karabagh authorities’ readiness to defend their positions at
the negotiations with Azerbaijan, the NKR leadership is ready for it
and, moreover, it has repeatedly initiated establishing a dialogue and
discussing the whole complex of issues without any preconditions.

REGNUM: What role does Russia play in the process of the Nagorno
Karabagh conflict settlement?

M.M. Russia has already gone down in the annals of the modern history
of Artsakh as a country, which played a key role in ceasing the bloody
war between NKR and Azerbaijan in May 1994. Besides, historically
Russia occupies its special niche as a traditional friendly state in
the perception of the Karabagh people. Currently, Russia, along with
the USA and France, plays an important role as a Co-Chair of the OSCE
Minsk Group, trying to bring the approaches of the conflicting parties
closer. Besides, I see Russia not only as a mediator in the settlement
of our long conflict. There is a great potential to be developed in
the relations with the Russian Federation in the political, economic,
religious, cultural, and educational spheres.

REGNUM: Is joint Azerbaijani-Karabagh production of the ‘Aghdam’ wine
real in the prospect, as President of Russia Vladimir Putin noted?

M.M. I don’t think that Vladimir Putin’s remark should be taken
literally. I evaluate this proposal as an appeal for starting regional
cooperation, which would contribute to the resolution of disputes
between the two nations. In this context, the approach of the Russian
leader should be appreciated.

REGNUM: Mr. Mayilian, how do you estimate the level of NKR cooperation
with other unrecognized states in the post-Soviet area?

M.M. I believe that our cooperation with the unrecognized states
adequately reflects our common goals. We support close bilateral
relations with the Republic of Abkhazia, Republic of South Ossetia,
and the Transdnestrian Moldavian Republic. For the last few years, NKR
representatives have repeatedly visited the countries on various
levels, and we received corresponding delegations in Karabagh. Close
cooperation on some political issues of mutual interest is
established.

As of the multilateral cooperation in the frameworks of the
Association «For Democracy and Rights of Nations», we participate in
the activity of this structure as observers, and this level of
cooperation meets our national interests to date, which is accepted by
our partners.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress