THE CALL FOR PEACE BY MAN WHO LOST HIS HEALTH IS MORE FORCEFUL
KarabakhOpen
28-03-2007 13:20:47
On Sunday two events took place in Haterk, Martakert region. In
the framework of the project implemented by the Resource Center of
Stepanakert and the International Alert, the Young Democrats and YMCA
held a seminar on the role of the youth in conflict transformation. On
the same day, the role of the ex-combatants and disabled of the war
in the peace process was discussed in a meeting organized by the
Rehabilitation Center of Stepanakert.
During the discussion the necessity of the engagement of the society
and its separate segments in public debates about the country’s
crucial issues was emphasized. "There is opinion that the standpoint
of the society has no importance, and all the decisions are made by
governments. This is a wrong opinion.
It is often so, but only because the society does not make
initiatives," said the director of the Resource Center Irina Grigoryan.
The participants of the debate said they get no information on the
talks, and simply cannot imagine what they can do to make their
standpoint known to the world.
And the standpoint is clear – Karabakh needs peace and stability. Every
settlement must stem from this. "We do not reject contact with
Azerbaijanis.
Besides, in the beginning of the movement nobody was thinking about
forcing Azerbaijanis to leave," said one of the participants of the
debate who participated in the defense of the village. The participants
of the debate dwelled on the problem of demography. "The return of
Azerbaijanis is impossible. The generation which went through war
cannot exist peacefully side by side with yesterday’s foe," said one
of the participants of the debate.
In the second part of the debate the director of the Rehabilitation
Center Vardan Tadevosyan told the disabled of war participating in
the debate about the possibilities for psychological and physical
rehabilitation at the center.
The participants also discussed the role of the ex-combatants in
the peace process, who are a vulnerable but influential part of the
population – the call for peace by a man who lost his health in war
is more forceful. The ex-combatants of Haterk uphold peace but they
know the cost of peace. "It is interesting to know the attitude of
the Azerbaijanis on the proposals on settlement and the idea on return
to Karabakh," asked one of the participants at the end of the debate.