Hayots Ashkharh, Armenia
Aug 22 2008

Lessons of Georgian-Ossetian conflict as presented by ARF bureau
member Aghvan Vardandyan

by Lusine Hovhannisyan

"Attempts to settle conflicts by military means are doomed to failure
as the Georgian-Ossetian clash has showed," a member of the ARFD
[Armenian Revolutionary Federation – Dashnaktsutyun] bureau said at
the Iranvunk-De Facto [press] club yesterday, adding that in this
context, the popular saying "he who takes the sword will be killed
with the sword" is true.

Aghvan Vardanyan believes that what happened would be a lesson for
Azerbaijan too. "When assessing what happened in our region, first of
all, we all should be concerned by the human tragedy: thousands of
victims, tens of thousands of refugees. These events affect Armenia
too, our country’s economic issues, shipments, etc."

He said that "it is very important that the international community
realizes that Armenia may also suffer from the conflict".

Vardanyan analysed what happened in the context of the Armenian
interests, concerns, issues regarding Armenia and Artsakh [Nagornyy
Karabakh].

"Artsakh will celebrate its independence day on 2 September, and I
believe it is a good occasion to show our unity. I am deeply convinced
that the soldiers defending the borders of Nagornyy Karabakh realize
that they defend not only Artsakh but also the Republic of Armenia,
our national interests. Without the right of Artsakh people to live
freely, Armenia cannot have great future in this region and in the
world."

Vardanyan said that the NKR, with its historic and legal status, as
well as today’s situation, cannot be compared with either Osetia or
Abkhazia. "NKR has more right in all terms and is a more established
and organized state that many recognized countries in the region can
learn lessons from."

Vardanyan thinks that "the consequences of the Georgian-Ossetian
conflict are a good reason for the key Armenian political forces to
show a united will on issues concerning Karabakh and other crucial
issues". He said it is said that the Armenian fundamental opposition
does not show signs of unity.

[Passage omitted: Vardanyan said that Armenian President Serzh
Sargsyan’s being in Beijing during the conflict was a minor detail,
and the Armenian government performed well.]

He said Armenia should concentrate more on Turkey’s activeness.

[translated]

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress