TERRY DAVIS DIDN’T SHOW ENOUGH DIPLOMACY IN ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
Analytical Department
10.11.2007 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ In his speech made in Yerevan the Secretary General
thought it was worthy to teach Armenia how to build its relations
with the neighboring countries. "The example that occurs to me at
once is the one of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Unfortunately, the conflict of Nagorno-Karabakh still remains the
most essential obstacle on the way to peace, stabilization and
cooperation in this part of Europe. The resolution of this conflict
is of great interest to both Armenia and Azerbaijan. Another example
that comes to my mind is the relations with your western neighbor,
Turkey. The relations are not built on healthy bases because of the
events which took place not ten but a lot more years ago. I share your
grief. Everyone should confess that the history can be neither ignored,
not rewritten by order. We all know that many people died. However,
it is not only necessary to honor the memory of the victims, but also
realize that it is time to look ahead to the future.

The people of Armenia and Turkey should do so not only for themselves,
but for the sake of their children as well," said Davis in Yerevan.

The words themselves are kind of truthful, but there is one
"but". According to some unspecified data, Terry Davis has serious
personal interest in Azerbaijani oil which is in fact the reason of
the like announcements, which are to be answered by the official
Yerevan. Political scientist Levon Melik-Shahnazaryan mentioned,
that the present the Secretary General of the Council of Europe has
been involved in car spare parts’ sale. "As it may be observed, he
has still preserved his views of a trader in politics as well. In
this case Terry Davis doesn’t express his personal opinion, or the
opinion of the Council of Europe, but the viewpoint of his superiors.

But the Motherland is not a car and is not to be sold and such an
approach of the European official must be unacceptable for Armenia,"
emphasized the Armenian political scientist. In fact calling the nation
of Nagorno-Karabakh "separatists" in contrast to Kosovo Albanians,
"who fight for independence" is quite unacceptable.

The official Yerevan didn’t come out with an answer to the Secretary
General, instead the official Stepanakert did. According to the
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nagorno Karabakh Georgi Petrosyan,
the situation in Karabakh is indeed quite different of that of in
Kosovo in many aspects. "But Kosovo urges to become a full member of
international law as an independent state, just like Nagorno-Karabakh
does.

Terry Davis should be aware that the leadership of the temporary
institutions of self-government of Kosovo, established by the
temporary administration of the UNO has announced more than once
that the independence of Kosovo isn’t liable for any discussions,"
emphasized Petrosyan.

In its turn, the Commission of Nagorno Karabakh National Assembly
on foreign affairs is sure that "the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh,
having successfully fought the Azeri aggression, having the experience
of government administration and now striving towards the democratic
development, has more legitimacy to be recognized by the international
community, rather than the formation of Davis."

Most probably Davis understood that he went too far in Yerevan. This
is proved by his statement where he accused the Armenian Mass
Media of "misinterpretation of his words". "My last visit was
widely illustrated, but, unfortunately some of my words were
misinterpreted. No doubt the Armenian journalists have the right
to disagree and criticize my opinion on such an issue, like that
of Nagorno-Karabakh. Several magazines wrote that I compared
Nagorno-Karabakh elections with gay-parade. This is absurd. I said
that my viewpoint regarding the territorial integrity of the Council
of Europe’s Member States and consequently the right of the status of
Nagorno-Karabakh is quite clear and unchangeable. The fact that I do
not always react to the elections held in Nagorno-Karabakh, doesn’t
mean at all that my viewpoint on their competence has changed. I simply
drew a parallel between the elections and the limitation of freedom
of speech of the sexual minorities in European countries," said Davis.

It’s obvious; the excuses are lame and were made by force. But one
thing is sure; officials having the same viewpoint as Terry Davis are
heading institutions like the Council of Europe, the peace in South
Caucasus will not be long lasting unfortunately.