VARDAN OSKANYAN: ARMENIA NOT ISOLATED IN REGION
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
June 14 2007
YEREVAN, June 14. /ARKA/. RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan stated
that Armenia does not feel isolated in the region.
In his interview to the Armenian "Kentron" TV Company he stated that
Armenia is not isolated, but "is just keeping away" for political
reasons.
"This is not good for the region in general and affects its interests,
including the interests of Turkey and Azerbaijan. In this matter they
are acting against themselves," Oskanyan said. He added that attempts
to completely isolate Armenia do not cause more damage to the country
than that caused as a result of closed Armenian-Turkish border.
"It is not a matter of life and death for us. Of course, it is
desirable that we have normal good-neighborly relations, and there
is no doubt that we must do our best for this, but it must not by any
means be linked with the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh problem,"
Oskanyan said.
According to him, the Armenian side has focused on accomplishing the
task set to it, namely, ensuring the Nagorno-Karabakh’s people’s right
to self-determination, settling the conflict, establishing peace,
ensuring security of the Nagorno-Karabakh population and normalizing
relations with the neighbors.
"There are no reasons for preventing Armenia’s involvement in regional
and economic projects after the relations have been normalized,"
Oskanyan said.
"We should not forget that many economic problems will be easy to
resolve if Armenia is involved in regional economic projects. The
countries trying to have Armenia ousted from regional economic projects
pay for it," Oskanyan said.
According to him, these countries need Armenia’s involvement in
the projects.
"The major obstacle is the Nagorno-Karabakh problem. If it is resolved,
all the other problems will be resolved, I am sure," Oskanyan said.
The Minister pointed out the inadvisability of laying emphasis on
economic problems during the negotiations for the Nagorno-Karabakh
settlement.
"This will weaken our positions, as Azerbaijan will think that we
are dependent on all this," Oskanyan said.