Today.Az, Azerbaijan

Levon Ter-Petrosyan: "Reduced influence of Russia in the Caucasus
proves the soonest resolution of the Karabakh conflict not in
Armenia’s favor"

18 October 2008 [13:11] – Today.Az

Speaking at a meeting last Friday, first president of Armenia, head of
the Armenian National Congress Levon Ter-Petrosyan urged the country’s
parliament to recognize independence of "Nagorno Karabakh".

Ter-Petrosyan considers that the external policy of powers puts the
state interests of Armenia under threat. He considers that in the
established situation West will not miss a chance to settle the
conflict and it will occur in conditions when trying to prove his
legitimacy, Serzh Sargsyan is rushing for West, simultaneously obeying
the policy of the latter and driving Russia out of the negotiation
process on the Karabakh conflict.

Explaining the actions of once pro-Russian Sargsyan for changing the
orientation, Ter-Petrosyan noted that "Russia does not have to prove
something to him and he does not expect something from Russia, so his
main task is to attain West’s favor. What can Sargsyan offer to the
West? Armenia has no natural resources.

It has nothing except a state interest and the president has chosen
the way of sacrificing the state interests.

At the same time, the leader of the Armenian opposition said that he
is against any orientation, as it leads to bitter results, like in
Georgia’s case. He noted that when being a president he conducted a
balanced policy, while Kocharyan chose a complementary one and the
difference is only in terminology.

"The aforementioned facts and reduced influence of Russia in the
Caucasus after recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia prove the
soonest resolution of the Karabakh conflict not in Armenia’s favor",
noted Petrosyan.

He said Sargsyan was provided with a deadline to fulfill his pledges
on the Karabakh settlement until PACE January session. Ter-Petrosyan
lists the way, which will allow to preserve Armenian statehood: soften
the sociopolitical tensions in the country, improve relations with
Russia and eliminate all differences, paying special attention to the
Karabakh issue, which means that Armenian powers should spare no
efforts for specifying the issue about possible referendum in
Karabakh.

He noted that Armenia should refuse to represent the so-called
"Nagorno Karabakh Republic" in the talks and demand involvement of
Khankendi as a party in the negotiation process.

/ARMENIA-Today/

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress