AUTHORITIES OF TWO COUNTRIES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MILITARY OPERATIONS IN SOUTH OSSETIA, ARTHUR SAKUNTS SAYS

Noyan Tapan

Au g 21, 2008

YEREVAN, AUGUST 21, NOYAN TAPAN. The authorities of both Russia and
Georgia are responsible for the military operations in South Ossetia,
as a result of which the civilian population suffered, the head of the
Helsinki Citizens Assembly Vanadzor Branch Arthur Sakunts expressed an
opinion at the August 21 press conference. In his words, the reason
is that the authorities of the two countries are not legitimate and
do not bear responsibility for protection of the rights of their
voters. "The main reason for the conflict’s resumption is the state
of illegitimacy of the authorities in both countries because before
taking such actions, the authorities should have thought about civilian
population," A. Sakunts said. In this respect, according to him,
it is not essential which of them started military operations.

As a result of the events in Georgia, A. Sakunts identified a number
of worrying issues related to Armenia. He considered as quite worrying
the statement of the Armenian ministry of defence that the territory
of Armenia will not be used as a base field for military opeartions
against Georgia. A. Sakunts said that the Armenian legislation does not
regulate in any way the legal status of Russian bases in the territory
of Armenia. "What guarantees do I as an Armenian citizen have that
tomorrow Russian tanks will not appear in Liberty Square? The words
of the Armenian minister of defence cannot be a guarantee here,"
he stated.

A. Sakunts does not see any guarantees either regarding the issue of
nonresumption of hostilities for solution of the Karabakh problem. "The
illegitimate authorities of Armenia and Azerbaijan cannot guarantee
that we will not have such problems at the Karabakh front," he said.