VARDAN OSKANIAN: WE HAVE REGISTERED SERIOUS PROGRESS IN NAGORNO
KARABAKH SETTLEMENT IN PAST TEN YEARS
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 26, NOYAN TAPAN. RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian
hopes that the year 2008 will be a year of peace, stability, and
prosperity for Armenia. Saying this in his December 26 interview to
journalists, the Minister meanwhile mentioned that some speeches voiced
on the eve of the presidential elections cause apprehension over
possible home political shocks. "My only wish is not to have these
shocks in Armenia. We cannot create such situations, as they will have
a serious negative impact on the country," V. Oskanian added.
The Foreign Minister also expressed the hope that the Armenian foreign
policy’s direction will not be changed after the presidential
elections. "The course adopted today I think has given positive results
to the country," he said.
In response to the question of whether it is time for Armenia to adopt
more aggressive policy by Azerbaijan’s example in the issue of Nagorno
Karabakh settlement, V. Oskanian called journalists for not making
comparisons. According to him, Armenian party’s policy in Nagorno
Karabakh settlement has been right, consistent, and efficient. "If we
take into consideration both the negotiations’ content and the
international opinion in that issue, we can say that in the past ten
years we have registered serious diplomatic progress in the foreign
policy, especially in the Nagorno Karabakh settlement," the Minister
assured.
In connection with the possibility of final settlement of the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict in 2008 the RA Foreign Minister said: "I think we
should continue the negotiations and wait for the right moment to lead
the process to the end." Asked what impact the presidential elections
to be held in a number of countries in 2008 will have on the
negotiations process, V. Oskanian expressed an opinion that elections
in the United States and Russia will hardly have a direct impact. As
regards Armenia, according to the Foreign Minister, even in the period
of electoral processes Armenia is ready to continue the negotiations.
In his words, the sooner the Nagorno Karabakh problem is settled the
better for both Armenia and Azerbaijan.