DO BRITISH THINK KARABAKH WANTS TO RETURN TO AZERBAIJAN?

Lragir.am
24-08-2007 14:24:32

Stephen Pound, a British member of parliament, is visiting
Karabakh. The member of the House of Commons has met with NKR officials
and representatives of NGOs.

The British parliament discusses Karabakh and the Karabakh issue often
but few know what it is. Meanwhile, Karabakh is important to Britain,
Stephen Pound told the reporter of Karabakh-open.com.

Why is Karabakh important to Britain? In answer to this question
the British member of parliament first emphasized that his country
participates in the Minsk process for the settlement of the Karabakh
issue. He said the relations of Armenia and Great Britain are marred
by disgraceful events, first of all, the massacres of Armenians in
Shushi in the early 20th century when Britain was present in the
region. Second, the United Kingdom has not recognized the Armenian
genocide of 1915 yet. At the same time, according to the MP, the
Armenian community is one of the most sustainable and hard-working
communities. The community is not big but has considerable contribution
to the British economy and culture. Meanwhile, he says Britain conducts
a pro-Azerbaijani policy which needs to be balanced and therefore it
is necessary to witness what is going on here.

Mr. Pound says what he saw is Armenia except the name. He says he did
not witness protesting people who want to become part of Azerbaijan. He
witnessed a normal country where people do not want to change anything.

In answer to our question the British think Karabakh wants to join
Azerbaijan, whereas Armenia prevents it, he says there is too much
propaganda. In answer to our question what he is going to do after
he returns home, Stephen Pound said he is going to tell what he
witnessed. He thinks it is necessary to change the attitude of the
members of parliament toward such important issues and possibly bring
them closer to the reality, and in this he expects the support of
the Armenian community, particularly the ARF Dashnaktsutyun, which
is well-organized, and with which he has close links. The member of
parliament says he has addressed the House of Commons for a few times
regarding the genocide and there is already a group which endorses
him. According to him, if there is an adequate attitude toward the
Genocide, the policy on Karabakh cannot contradict to it.

In his opinion, the British policy on Karabakh must acknowledge
that Karabakh is part of Armenia and it only needs a legal
recognition. Besides, the country needs to reconstruct infrastructures,
for a small investment in the energy sector and transport may generate
considerable profit. The member of parliament wishes trade links
between our countries, with a strong Diaspora. He says the world is
unstable in the 21st century, and the European countries including
the UK need stable partners. He says Armenia for them is a stable
neighbor. The history of Armenia is older than the history of many
other European states, and he thinks close relation is good for both
Armenia and Great Britain.