VAZGEN MANUKIAN CONSIDERS SENSELESS TO SPEAK ABOUT ARTSAKH PROBLEM WITHOUT NKR’S DIRECT PARTICIPATION IN NEGOTIATIONS
Noyan Tapan
Jan 21, 2008
YEREVAN, JANUARY 21, NOYAN TAPAN. For Armenia, the most important
directions in the sphere of foreign policy are: the Nagorno Karabakh
settlement, the European integration, development of relations with
the neighboring countries, including improvement of Armenian-Turkish
relations. Vazgen Manukian, a candidate for presidency, the Chairman
of the National Democratic Union, mentioned in his preelection program.
According to his program, it is senseless to speak about the full and
stable settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh problem without NKR’s direct
participation in the negotiations as an equal party. The main goal
of these negotiations should be international de jure recognition
of de facto independence already fulfilled on the basis of the
self-determination right of Armenians of Artsakh, with clarification
of Artsakh’s borders and ensuring its natural border with the RA. The
results of the negotiations should create special security guarantees
for NKR population, provide conditions for its normal socio-economic
development, for creation of a complete possibility for resettlement
of refugees and people displaced by force. The guarantee of stability
of problem’s solution also essentially depends on the democratization
extent of the conflict parties.
As regards other directions of foreign policy, according to Manukian,
membership to the European Union should be considered as one of the
main directions of RA’s foreign (also domestic) policy.
Armenia-Russian Federation relations should be developed in the
military, socio-economic, cultural, scientific-educational, and other
spheres. RA and RF should always habe special relations irrespective
of their security systems.
RA should carry on active foreign policy contributing to regional
integration, as well as deepening relations in different spheres with
its eastern neighbors, especially Iran and Arab countries.
The candidate for presidency also mentioned that the work in the
above mentioned directions supposes concrete programs based on deep
analyses. It is envisaged to create state research-strategic centers
for that purpose, where mid-term and long-term programs will be worked
out, including for the sphere of foreign policy.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
