STATE CONCEPT IS NEEDED FOR RESETTLEMENT OF LIBERATED TERRITORIES, EDITOR OF "FLAG" SAYS

Noyan Tapan
Jun 07 2007

YEREVAN, JUNE 7, NOYAN TAPAN. Since 2001, the population has decreased
in the liberated regions adjacent to Nagorno Karabakh, particularly
in Kashatagh. Editor of "Hetk" electronic newspaper Edik Baghdasarian
said this at the June 7 press conference. According to him, in 1999,
favorable living conditions were created in these regions: municipal
service traiffs were reduced, family benefits were provided, etc,
thanks to which the number of resettlers reached 17 thousand in
Kashatagh. However, in the words of E. Baghdasarian, the living
conditions sharply became worse after appointment of Hamlet Khachatrian
as head of the Kashatagh administration which forced people to leave
this settlement. The editor said that the situation has improved a bit
in the last two months after a wave of protest rose in the Diaspora
in connection with the state in Kashatagh.

Editor of ARF’s official newspaper "Droshak" ("Flag") Karen Khanlarian
in his turn noted that the Diaspora certainly takes an interest in
problems of residents of the liberated territories but it is necessary
to develop a state concept for successful solution of the resettlement
problem. No such concept exists. "After all, a smart person will not go
to live in the area, which, according to information reaching him/her,
will be abandoned some time," K. Khanlarian stated.

E. Baghdasarian added that he does not know a country to have handed
over the territories liberated in war to the other side at the
negotiation table.

Besides, as the journalist pointed out, a new generation has grown
up in the liberated territories and these children don’t know that
somewhere some uncles are disputing the issue of abandoning their
birthplace.