VARDAN OSKANIAN: IN CASE OF NECESSITY WE WILL ADOPT NEW POLICY FOR PURPOSE OF PROVIDING SELF-DETERMINATION AND SECURITY OF KARABAKH

Noyan Tapan
March 24, 2008

BEIRUT, MARCH 24, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Vardan Oskanian,
the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, had an interview with
the director of "Azdak". Minister Oskanian touched upon the recent
pressing events in a national sense and introduced the points of
view of the diplomatic leadership of his homeland with regard to the
recent aggressive approaches of the Azerbaijani side and the domestic
political situation of Armenia in his interview. Below is the complete
contents of the interview with Minister Vardan Oskanian.

Azdak: It is true that the UN vote results carry a message to
Azerbaijan, as you mentioned. But do not you think that the event
conveys a message to the Armenian side as well? It is obvious that
official Baku wants to take full advantage of the internal turmoil
in Armenia.

Vardan Oskanian: It is true the resolution passed although,
of course, we wish it had not. However, I am satisfied with the
number of countries that did not support it. I assess their decisions
positively. This is a non-binding, or consultative pronouncement by the
General Assembly, I do not think it will have an affect on the process,
unless Azerbaijan is engaged not just in deception but self-deception.

It was unnecessary, ill-timed, mean-spirited, both as a process
and a product. If they expect to use this for anything other than
their domestic purposes, if they have convinced themselves that the
international community truly supports the one-sided desires they
had enumerated in the text of this resolution, then this will cause
serious problems in the negotations. One thing must be clear for
Azerbaijan that no amount of resolutions will make Nagorno Karabakh
deviate from its path of self-determination.

Show me one example in history when a conflict has been resolved by the
passage or acceptance of a document by an international organization
or by third countries. There has not happened and it is not going to
happen now, certainly not in the case of Nagorno Karabakh. In 1948,
the UN General Assembly resolution to partition Palestine did not solve
anything. More recently, the Security Council resolution on Kosovo
also did not manage to bring the sides together in a meaningful way. I
remember in Lisbon when the OSCE Chairman-in-Office made a statement
about Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan’s joy knew no limits. It took
years for Azerbaijan to understand that that document had no value.

As for the patgam to Armenia, it is not the patgam of the international
community. It is the patgam of Azerbaijan alone. By insisting on this
non-binding, non-collective statement, Azerbaijan demonstrated two
things: that it wants to retreat from the Minsk Group process, and
therefore from the content of the document on the table; and that it
is only willing to negotiate what it wants, and not a compromise. That,
unfortunately, is the batgam we have received from all this.

Azdak: There are signs that such behavior by Azerbaijan may continue
both in the form of ceasefire violations and in increased attempts
to mislead the international public in the diplomatic arena. What do
you foresee?

Vardan Oskanian: Fortunately, we will have an opportunity soon to
find out what Azerbaijan’s intentions are. There is a possibility that
Armenia’s President-Elect will meet with the Azerbaijani President in
Bucharest, in the framework of the NATO-EAPC Summit. We have stated
our readiness to participate, I know the co-chairs will make such a
proposal, and I know the Azeris have also hinted that they are ready
to continue the dialogue at the highest levels. During that first
meeting this issue can be clarified.

President-Elect Sargsyan can ask President Aliyev point blank : if
you truly believe in the content of this resolution and if that will
be your guideline, then there is nothing to talk about and let us
not waste our time. But if you are still committed to the negotiating
document on the table today, then let us get serious and go the short
distance that is left.

Indeed, the UN resolution text and the content of the negotiating
document are incompatible; most of the international community
recognized this which is why they did not support it. The international
community was also perturbed by Azerbaijan’s recent serious breaches
of the ceasefire. These two things taken together should, indeed,
make the international community think whether Azerbaijan is serious
about its commitments to peace. We are.

We will do what we must, adopt new policies if necessary, to secure
Karabakh’s self-determination and security.

Azdak: Today there is a need to change Armenia’s image, as well as
to conduct an accurate and objective assessment domestic political
developments. How do you envision that process, especially when it
comes to coordinating between the Republic of Armenia and the Diaspora?

Vardan Oskanian: Indeed, Armenia has taken a beating because of the
riots and the deaths. And when the international community comes
inquiring about the situation, they are not interested in asking
or knowing who is responsible for what. They look at this as an
Armenian mess, an Armenian tragedy, an Armenian problem and judge
us all together. It is not the government that is damaged, it is not
the opposition that is discredited, it is Armenia that is dishonored.

We must accept their criticism, listen to their disappointment,
share their frustration and try to make certain that this is not
a permanent setback, but a temporary aberration from the path to
which we are commited. I hope I am not wrong. We will be tested by
what happens in the coming weeks and monhs. What is very encouraging
is that despite all that has happened, there is a lot of good will
towards Armenia, a lot of hope pinned on Armenia, and a sincere
desire to see us come through this in a meaningful way, not just
superficially moving forward with business as usual.

This is also a challenge for the Diaspora. The Diaspora is obviously
shocked and disappointed by the way events have evolved. But we all
are. Now it is time for Armenia and the Diaspora together to navigate
through this polarized and paralyzing situation, find ways to build
faith, to encourage sustained, continuous engagement, to insist on
and support institutional change. In other words, to continue the
difficult task of nation-building.

What the Diaspora cannot do, as some have suggested, is to boycott
Armenia, to reject Armenia-based organizations, to blame Armenia for
not being the country of their dreams. I understand the disappointment,
I do not understand the expectations or the reaction. This is when we
in Armenia need the Diaspora, this is when the Diaspora must say what
the international community is saying : we are disappointed in what
has happened and we stand ready to work with you to bring Armenia
out of this crisis. This is not the time to disown the family. This
is the time for systematic and broad cooperation.