NEW ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTER GIVES FIRST INTERVIEW SINCE APPOINTMENT
Mediamax
April 17 2008
Armenia
"The key issue is the status of Nagornnyy Karabakh and it should be
resolved on the basis of a plebiscite"
An exclusive interview with Armenian Foreign Minister Edvard Nalbandyan
for the Mediamax news agency.
Edvard Nalbandyan was appointed Armenian foreign minister on 14
April. He gave his first interview to the Mediamax news agency.
[Correspondent] Minister, may I begin by congratulating you on
assuming the position of foreign minister. And thank you for finding
the time for this interview on your first day in office. Could I ask
you to share your views regarding the main directions of Armenia’s
foreign policy?
[Nalbandyan] Thank you and with pleasure.
Last week, in his meeting with the Armenian ambassadors, President
Sargsyan said that there will be no significant changes in the main
course of our foreign policy; we will continue to develop bilateral
and multilateral cooperation with friendly and partner states, as
well as our practical engagement in international organizations.
I would not want you to regard my answers here as programme provisions,
but rather as views on some priorities.
Shall I begin with our main partners?
Armenia will continue to strengthen our special strategic partnership
with the Russian Federation, building upon the traditionally friendly
ties between our nations.
We will pursue the development and enhancement of friendly partnership
with the United States and intensified cooperation.
Armenia will continue its consistent effort towards developing
increased ties with Europe, on the basis of the commitments undertaken
within the framework of cooperation with the European organizations
and the common values which we share.
Armenia attaches great importance to relations with those immediate
neighbouring states with which we are engaged in friendly cooperation,
and is ready to exert every effort to improve relations with those
of our neighbors with whom problems still exist.
The settlement of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict remains a priority. I
would like to reiterate Armenia’s commitment to continue the existing
process in order to reach a solution. However, our readiness alone is
not enough. Azerbaijan’s readiness is also needed in order to arrive
at a settlement.
I would like to believe that, together with my Azerbaijani counterpart,
we will demonstrate due responsibility, and set aside the practice
of communicating through the media and declarations and of giving
public lessons and advice.
It is impossible to call for compromise and, at the same time,
declare that the solution will be in the interest of one party only;
to speak of a constructive approach and to make militant statements
and openly prepare for war. Why would this be done? I cannot think
of any other state which would brag about a several-fold increase in
its military budget.
The key issue in the negotiations is the status of Nagornyy Karabakh
and it should be resolved through the peace process, on the basis of
a plebiscite, which will give the people of Karabakh an opportunity
for free expression of their will. This is the essence of the current
stage of negotiations. I believe that there is a window of opportunity
today, and a solution can be reached with a political will.
[Correspondent] Minister, would you like to comment on the current
state of Armenian-Turkish relations and the prospects thereof?
[Nalbandyan] With regard to our relations with Turkey, we have, on
various occasions, expressed our readiness to normalize them without
any precondition.
The genocide is a dark page in our common history and we have to turn
this page together and we must build a secure future together.
I want to reiterate once more Armenia’s readiness to develop relations
with Turkey without preconditions and our commitment to take necessary
steps to that end.
The establishment of lasting peace and stability and wider cooperation
in our region will continue to remain among our priorities.
The strategic importance of the South Caucasus is not only in its
geographic location and natural riches, but in its position on an
important North-South and East-West axis, which can only be fully
utilized if conflicts are resolved and good-neighbourly relations
are established.
This will benefit everyone! The Republic of Armenia will spare no
effort to bring that day closer.