DISCUSSIONS ON KARABAKH PEACE PROCESS
ArmInfo
2007-06-20 17:46:00
Karabakh peace process has practically run its course and the threat
of resumption of military actions in the conflict zone has sharply
increased, David Shahnazaryan, the former minister of national
security, said in the course of discussions on Karabakh conflict.
He conditionally divided the settlement process into two stages: before
and after 1998. Shahnazaryan said, before 1998, the international
community considered Azerbaijan an aggressor, Nagorny Karabakh was a
negotiating party and Armenia’s international authority was much higher
than that of Azerbaijan. The so- called staged settlement-scheme was
on the negotiating table, which became a reason for the change of
power in the country and Robert Kocharyan’s coming to power. Since
1998 Armenia has been considered an aggressor and Karabakh no longer
participates in the negotiations.
Official Yerevan "somehow forgot" about the necessity of lifting
Armenia’s blockade by Azerbaijan. The latter efficiently uses the oil
factor. Now, transfering of all the 7 territories and Nagorny Karabakh
to Azerbaijan is in question. "Unless Nagorny Karabakh declares that
Robert Kocharyan neglects its interests during the negotiations, all
the strong statements by Stepanakert are useless. OSCE Minsk Group
has taken a cloudy position and the threat of war has increased. It is
not ruled out that the new war will meet Russia’s interests as Moscow
likes ‘banging the door’ when leaving a region," D. Shahnazaryan said.
Leader of the National-Democratic Union Vazgen Manukyan categorically
disagreed with him. He is sure that negotiations are senseless if
Karabakh’s independence is not discussed and Azerbaijan expects to
get Nagorny Karabakh by other means. In such situation, Armenia needs
development of democracy and mobilization of Armenians worldwide.
Vazgen Manukyan asked David Sahnazaryan as a representative of the
former ruling party Armenian National Movement, "not to blame Robert
Kocharyan’s administration for everything, as it was the former
leadership of the country that invited R. Kocharyan from Nagorny
Karabakh. However, after the change of power in 1998, the party
tailed away." In response, D. Shahnazaryan said: "The country lacks
opposition. You never protest against the actions of the presidential
administration. Moreover, in 1998, you called his coming to power as
a victory of democracy in Armenia."