ARMENIAN LEADER EXPECTS INCENTIVE IN PEACE TALKS AFTER OCTOBER ELECTIONS
AzerNews Weekly
Sept 3 2008
Azerbaijan
Talks on settling the Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict will intensify
after Azerbaijan`s October presidential elections, Armenian President
Serzh Sarkisian has said.
In an interview with Turkish media, he avoided comparing the conflicts
over the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia with the
Garabagh problem.
Sarkisian said everyone witnessed the consequences of military
intervention in dealing with such issues.
"On such issues, we support discussions. We believe in solving the
problem through peace and reconciliation. Let`s put everything aside –
over 70% of our trade is done through Georgia. Therefore, most of all,
Armenia wishes for the welfare of Georgia. The main thing is that we
have to draw a conclusion from what happened there," Sarkisian said.
Georgia launched large-scale military operations to restore its
territorial integrity on August 8 in its breakaway republic of South
Ossetia.
Moscow retaliated by sending troops to the region, which struck at
the Georgian armed forces using overwhelming force.
A ceasefire was, subsequently, reached on August 17 with the mediation
of French President Nicolas Sarkozy to end the brief war.
It was noteworthy, said observers, that Sarkisian did not mention
the issue of Garabagh`s "independence." Instead, Yerevan said it
backed resolution of the long-standing conflict within a set of
basic principles as set down last November by the mediating OSCE
Minsk Group co-chairs in Madrid.
Armenia and Azerbaijan waged a war over the mountainous region of Upper
(Nagorno) Garabagh in the early 1990s, which claimed some 30,000
lives and displaced about one million Azerbaijanis. Armenia has
since occupied over 20% of Azerbaijan`s internationally recognized
territory. A ceasefire accord was signed in 1994, however, peace
talks have been inconclusive, so far.
Sarkisian once again invited his Turkish counterpart, Abdullah Gul,
to attend a football match between the two countries` teams in Yerevan
this September, saying this would be a good chance to forge ties
between Armenia and Turkey.
Asked whether the move was politically motivated, the Armenian leader
did not provide a definitive answer, merely saying Yerevan`s goal
was to restore ties with its neighbor.
Sarkisian recalled that President Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan were among the first leaders to congratulate him on his
victory in the February 19 Armenian election, claiming that Ankara`s
congratulatory letter cited the need for expanding cooperation.
As for Armenia`s aspiration to participate in large-scale regional
projects, he said, "if political aims top economic agendas, such
projects turn out to be unsuccessful."
The Turkish leader said Armenia should consider reaching a settlement
in the Garabagh conflict if it hopes to participate in regional
projects.
Gul noted, however, that Ankara supported neighboring country`s
joining such projects.
"This land belongs to all of us. Armenians and Turks have been
neighbors throughout history," he said.
Asked what step Ankara intended to take "at a time Armenia is
anxiously awaiting the establishment of ties with Turkey," Gul
responded diplomatically, unlike his Armenian counterpart, saying
that Turkey welcomed the recent efforts being made to ensure stability
and cooperation in the region.
"I want to solve problems with all of our neighbors. There have been
both sweet and bitter memories in history. Now, the key issue is not
to look back at history, but for all regional states to come together
and take part in joint projects. Turkey continues to closely follow
ongoing developments to make this happen," Gul said.
Armenia and Turkey have been at odds and the border between the two
countries has been closed since 1993.
Ankara has repeatedly made it clear that discussions on forging ties
with Yerevan could begin only after Armenia relinquishes its policy
of occupation against Azerbaijan and the "Armenian genocide" claims.