DayAz.org, Azerbaijan
3 December 2007
ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTER CALLS KARABAKH PEACE PLAN "A BALANCED
DOCUMENT"
Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan has called on the sides to
the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict to make compromises to resolve the
problem. In an interview with Azerbaijani Day.az website, the
Armenian minister said that the document, submitted to the
Azerbaijani and the Armenian presidents in Madrid on the Karabakh
settlement, requires the political will and determination. The
minister also believes that the upcoming presidential elections in
the countries to the conflict should not hinder the negotiations
process. The minister also urged the parties to work towards
confidence-building measures to accelerate a settlement. The
following is the text of interview in Day.az headlined "Vardan
Oskanyan: `Whoever becomes a new president of Armenia, he will
continue former line in the Karabakh negotiations process’"
3 December: Day.az interview with Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan
Oskanyan
The US co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, Matthew Bryza, has said that
the most ever optimum draft agreement on the Nagornyy Karabakh
settlement is on the negotiating table. To what extent, is it a
comprise and how acceptable is it for both sides to the conflict?
"Realities of the past and the present"
[Oskanyan] We need to make compromises because it is impossible to
achieve results with the current positions. We have to understand
that compromises are necessary for a document which is to be endorsed
by the sides. The extent of the compromises will depend on the
realities of the past and the present.
All should be realistic with regard to what can be achieved and what
cannot be. And based on the realities, the sides should show
determination and the political will to make the necessary
compromises for the achievement of peace in our region.
[Correspondent] Can we say that the upcoming 2008 [presidential]
elections in Armenia and Azerbaijan will retard the negotiations
process?
[Oskanyan] As you see, we are continuing the work on the resolution
of the problem. True, the elections are to be held but we do not link
the negotiations to the election. We are continuing our work and the
co-chairmen pay visits to the region.
[Correspondent] When do you expect their next visit to the region?
[Oskanyan] They themselves say they will visit at the end of December
or in mid-January next year. Thus, we are continuing the process. We
shall certainly focus on the election, but anyway we shall be
involved in the negotiations process.
[Correspondent] Can a change of president in Armenia influence the
negotiations and lead to a revision of the already achieved
agreement?
[Oskanyan] I hope not. This is the reason why the co-chairmen are
making attempts to inform the world and everybody in Armenia of the
document which envisages key principles of a settlement.
"Balanced document"
Therefore, no matter who is elected, we shall continue the
negotiations on the basis of this document since it envisages huge
work done by us. We consider it a solid document comprising all the
issues; this is an objective and balanced document. Of course, it
cannot completely make happy everyone as it is a compromise document.
The proposals there reject maximum demands of the sides.
So, this is a balanced document. Certainly, we are working to improve
it. There are a number of issues which need to be agreed, but its
basis, in my view, is solid. If we could continue our work on the
basis of this document, no matter who is elected president in Armenia
and later Azerbaijan, this would mean that the work done over these
two years was not in vain.
[Correspondent] Recently the Armenian media quoted Armenian Prime
Minister Sarah Sargsyan as saying that the religious factor was on
the basis of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict. This caused a wave of
protest in Azerbaijan. Later on this statement was rejected by the
prime minister himself. Could you shed light on the position of
Armenia with regard to this issue?
[Oskanyan] Actually, this statement was taken out of context. We have
always said that this is not a religious conflict; this is the issue
of self-determination of the Karabakh people. This statement was
certainly taken out of context. I do not think the prime minister
could express such an idea.
Kosovo precedent
[Correspondent] Do you think the Karabakh settlement depends on the
Kosovo precedent?
[Oskanyan] We have always spoken about differences between conflicts
and each of them has its own ways of settlement. However, as a whole,
precedents are important. We shall come across them no matter we like
it or not. But we do not link the resolution of the Kosovo problem to
the Karabakh one. In our example, Karabakh has its normal course of
negotiations. Karabakh has itself chosen the way of regarding its
future based on self-determination, therefore, irrespective of what
happens in Kosovo, we shall continue the negotiations on the basis of
the existing principles.
On the other hand, we cannot but take into consideration the Kosovo
precedent. If Kosovo acquires independence, no-one can say us that
nobody else can get independence because freedom has no quota.
[Correspondent] What kind of self-determination can we speak about
when it was achieved unilaterally after Azerbaijanis were driven out
of Nagornyy Karabakh and Armenia?
[Oskanyan] May be you were very young at that time and do not
remember the things that happened in Sumqayit and Baku; Armenians
were expelled from Azerbaijan and it caused a proper reaction in
Armenia. There were pogroms and ethnic cleansing in Azerbaijan. It
left a trace in the minds and hearts of Armenians. Therefore, we are
insisting on confidence-building measures between the sides. If we do
not resolve the conflict, then next generations will have to do this.
We are concerned that mutual enmity between our peoples will deepen
due to the propaganda of hostility in Azerbaijan which is not the
case in Armenia.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
