STALLING FOR TIME IS ADVANTAGEOUS TO ALL SIDES
By Ruzan Poghosian

AZG Armenian Daily
14/06/2007

Political scientist Suren Zolian cherished hopes for the Karabakh
negotiations neither in recent past nor at present, as the issue
of Nagorno Karabakh has never existed for Azerbaijan, but it has
been considered as "an aggression by Armenia". This just proves the
absence of the subject of the negotiations. A situation is created
against the "victorious" attitude of Azerbaijan, where "stalling for
time is advantageous to all sides".

According to Zolian the firmness of the attitude of Azerbaijan is
directly proportional to its rates of economic growth. "They have
recorded 40 per cent economic growth, while we are proud of our
12-13 per cent. I don’t want to make comparisons, but the fact is
that Azerbaijan has the ability to develop sharply its economy and
transform its profits into military forces. That’s the reason why it
doesn’t want to make concessions. Azerbaijan anticipates speaking from
a position of strength and gaining the solution of all issues. All
the announcements of Azerbaijan are, first of all, ways of avoiding
the negotiations", announced Zolian at the June 12 press conference in
"Urbat" (Friday) club.

According to Suren Zolian "Caucasian stability wall" is a right
ideology. "It’s necessary to change the whole political structure
to settle the conflicts in South Caucasus – to change it into
a confederative unit, where each subject will have its level of
independence and sovereignty. It means that we’ll have a region
where the subjects will have different levels of sovereignty. It’s
an interesting idea, though it seems far from reality. There is no
another solution yet".

The warlike announcements of Azerbaijan are not realistic at present,
though in politics the words turn into action in the end. The most
important thing for the international community is the stability in
the region, but not the interests of Armenia or Azerbaijan. Maybe the
situation will change in 5-6 years, but at present Azerbaijan is not
allowed to endanger the programs that cost billions. Azerbaijan will
never retreat, and only its defeat or another disaster will influence
on its firm attitude.

Zolian thinks that today’s "status quo" will be preserved, because
the allied relations between Karabakh and Armenia have created a
state of stability, and it will continue until certain conditions
appear to solve the issue in their benefit".

Under these circumstances the primary issue for us is the
democratization of Nagorno Karabakh and Armenia, and their economic
growth based on sciences.

The strengthening of the armed forces is not a long-range policy
for Armenia. It’s also important to provide democratic development
in parallel.

"Without the solution of Karabakh issue, no progress will be registered
in solution of another issues, i.e.

the issues of territories, borders, refugees, etc", he added.

He also mentioned, "Karabakh issue is evidently the right of
self-determination of the people of Nagorno Karabakh. It will give
an opportunity to establish certain relations between Azerbaijan
and Nagorno Karabakh. There is an Azerbaijani community there, and
in spite of using the opportunity to carry on a dialogue with the
people of Karabakh, Azerbaijan avoids discussions with them.

"The fundamental issue for us is the following – what issues are
involved in the negotiation process. If the primary issue for us is
the status of Nagorno Karabakh, then Nagorno Karabakh must be involved
in the negotiation process," Zolian underscored.