CURRENT FORMAT OF NEGOTIATIONS OVER NAGORNO KARABAKH SETTLEMENT IS FALSE, ADVISER TO NKR PRESIDENT SAYS

Noyan Tapan
May 24 2007

YEREVAN, MAY 24, NOYAN TAPAN. The U.S. State Department’s annual
report where Karabakh is presented as an Azerbaijani territory
occupied by Armenia is evidence of the circumstance that the State
Department often makes statements contradicting one another and has
no single political line on a concrete issue. Arman Melikian, Adviser
to NKR President for political affairs, stated at the May 24 press
conference. As he affirmed, the Armenian side to some extent has its
share of guilt in this issue. The Armenian side cannot present to a
sufficient number of international organizations that NKR does not
make part of Armenia," A. Melikian said.

In connection with Karabakh’s involvement in the negotiations
process A. Melikian said that NKR was left out of the negotiations
process, as a result of which it turned into negotiations format
of Azerbaijan-Armenia Presidents and Foreign Ministers. However, in
the words of the Adviser to NKR President, this format is "false,"
as it cannot completely express the essence of the conflict.

A. Melikian said that it is not clear yet when NKR can become a
participant of negotiations. In his words, Minsk Group Co-chairs Yuri
Merzliakov and Bernard Fassier being in Armenia in these days hinted
that they are not the cause of Karabakh’s not taking part in the
negotiations. However, in A. Melikian’s words, "if the Co-chairs have
decided to the detriment of one of the sids that this side should not
take part in the negotiations or have given consent to such format,
then they have their share of guilt."

A. Melikian also expressed bewilderment in connection with the
circumstance that OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs speak about return of
Azerbaijanis, but do not speak about return of Armenians to Baku,
Kirovabad and Shahumian. In his words, the Armenian side will agree
to immigration of Azerbaijani refugees only after return of Armenian
refugees to Azerbaijan. And if Armenian refugees do not want to return,
in A. Melikian’s words, liberated territories controlled by Armenian
side will be the best place of residence for them.