KARABAKH GOVERNMENT’S RIGHT HAND IS UNAWARE OF WHAT ITS LEFT HAND IS DOING

Lragir.am
KarabakhOpen
03-07-2007 19:33:38

On July 3 an interesting thing happened at the Caucasus Analytical
Center which is based in Yerevan, where Armenian experts work,
but which is funded from a Russian source. The Caucasus Analytical
Center held a discussion on the presidential election of NKR headlined
View from Yerevan. Analysts, experts, politicians of Armenia had been
invited. From Masis Mayilyan’s team the head of Stepanakert Press Club,
editor of the Demo Public Newspaper, NKR Member of Parliament Gegham
Baghdasaryan was present. The representatives of Bako Sahakyan and
the other candidates did not turn up.

But since Sahakyan is the government’s candidate, NKR President
Ghukasyan had stated a few hours before the round-table meeting that
the former foreign minister of NKR, adviser to president Arman Melikyan
would represent Bako Sahakyan. However, this representation lasted
short although highly notable. After the address of the organizers
Arman Melikyan made an unexpected statement. The meaning of the
statement was the discussion was impertinent and in some sense also
highly unpleasant. According to Arman Melikyan, it would be acceptable
to discuss the settlement of the Karabakh conflict, or the territories,
but it is unacceptable when the presidential election of Karabakh
is discussed in Armenia at the Caucasus Analytical Center funded by
Russia. And it means that a third country is trying to influence the
outcome of the presidential election in Karabakh.

"What we are now discussing is apparently the disbelief that the people
of Karabakh may make a choice at best, or an effort to predetermine
the election, the outcome of the election, or try to influence
it at worst. It would be OK if an Armenian political party or NGO
held this discussion, but unfortunately – this is not an accusation
against my colleagues – unfortunately, this is a conference held by
a third country where the Armenian experts, in fact, there are also
representatives of Karabakh, must discuss the election of another
state," Arman Melikyan says.

He is right. But perhaps Arman Melikyan had better be guided by this
patriotic and dignified approach in performing his duties. And his
duties are to give advice to the president of NKR because he is adviser
to NKR president. For instance, like Arman Melikyan explained the
subtlety of the situation to the experts, perhaps he should explain
it to the NKR president as well who has recently addressed another
Russian institution based in Armenia, the Armenia-Russian Slavic
University and endorsed Bako Sahakyan.

Or does Arman Melikyan think Arkady Ghukasyan may speak about the
presidential election of Karabakh in Russian institutions, and other
may not? Or why did Arman Melikyan fail to advise the president of
Karabakh not to meet with the delegation from Russia led by the
Armenian and Azerbaijani ambassadors to Russia? Why? Because a
pre-election stage is underway in Karabakh, and this visit could
be viewed as support for the policy of the Karabakh government
and consequently for Bako Sahakyan who is ready to carry on this
policy. Why did Arman Melikyan fail to advise the president of Karabakh
to respond, not personally or maybe through advisers or ministers to
the articles in the Russian media on the NKR presidential election
which uphold the idea that everything is predetermined and Bako
Sahakyan will be elected.

Although perhaps Arman Melikyan gave advice to Arkady Ghukasyan but
Arkady Ghukasyan did not take it and all Melikyan can do is to give
advice to others. He cannot keep it all inside his head.