IN SAMVEL BABAYAN’S OPINION, NAGORNO KARABAKH PROBLEM CAN BE SOLVED ONLY IN CASE OF EUROPEAN UNION’S INTERVENTION

Noyan Tapan
May 02 2007

YEREVAN, MAY 2, NOYAN TAPAN. The Nagorno Karabakh problem can be
solved only in case of European Union’s intervention. Samvel Babayan,
former NKR Defence Minister, expressed such opinion at the April 30
interview on Shant TV company.

S. Babayan, who is currently taking part in the elections with the
Dashink (Alliance) Party founded and headed by him, is convinced that
it is necessary that the "European Union takes Nagorno Karabakh under
its mandate." This, in his words, will enable to return refugees
and displaced persons to the places of their former residence, to
reestablish mutual confidence between Armenians and Azeris, and only
after which a referendum about the status of that region can be held.

S. Babayan, who was one of the distinguished organizers of Karabakh
armed forces in the years of Karabakh-Azerbaijan armed conflict,
considers possible voluntary return of Azeris to Nagorno Karabakh
before determination of the region’s status with a reservation that the
consent of current NKR authorities is also needed for this. He gave
assurance that it is impossible to achieve solution of the problem
through negotiations carried on within the framework of OSCE due to
diametrically opposite positions of Armenia and Azerbaijan in the issue
of Nagorno Karabakh status. He considered as groundless the statements
voiced lately that the sides "are close to agreement." In his opinion,
negotiating within the framework of OSCE is just "waste of time."

A. Babayan emphasized that the above mentioned provisions concerning
Nagorno Karabakh settlement are included in the preelection program of
his party. In his words, the Dashink is the only party, the program
of which includes provisions related not only to home political,
but also foreign political sphere.