AT LAST KARABAKH SPOKE

Lragir.Am
17:37:21 – 21/11/2008

The Chair Of The NKR National Assembly Committee Of Foreign Affairs
Vahram Atanesyan held a news conference in Armenia on November 21
at the Tesaket press club. In the beginning he said he speaks as a
private person and does not represent the official stance of NKR.

The reporters asked the private person Vahram Atanesyan how
Karabakh evaluates the current stage of the settlement of the
conflict. Atanesyan stated that there is one issue on the agenda
of Karabakh, the international recognition of NKR within the borders
acceptable for the people of Karabakh and the dominance of the national
security. Vahram Atanesyan stated that the borders acceptable for
the people of NKR are set down in the NKR Constitution which holds
that before the restoration of its territorial integrity NKR has
sovereignty over the factual borders. In other words, it includes the
liberated territories as well, and the restoration of the territorial
integrity of NKR involves the region of Shahumyan which is occupied
by Azerbaijan but is part of NKR, Vahram Atanesyan says.

Atanesyan stated that Karabakh has a distinct approach towards
the settlement of the conflict. By the way, he said that approach
differs from the approach of Armenia. In addition, according to Vahram
Atanesyan, there has always been a difference between the approaches
of Armenia and Karabakh, sometimes striking, som etimes not. Among
differences, Atanesyan said NKR pursues one issue – international
recognition. Vahram Atanesyan says Karabakh does not consider the
discussion of territories as essential, and "at the moment it cannot
be on the agenda." As to other differences, Vahram Atanesyan hopes to
talk about them in another news conference for the Armenian reporters.

As to the Moscow declaration, Vahram Atanesyan says Karabakh does
not view it as a document which determines the settlement. As to
the Madrid principles, Vahram Atanesyan says only the executive
government can speak about them since the details of the talks are
known in that domain. Vahram Atanesyan commended the consultation of
the Armenian president with the political parties of Armenia, noting
that in Karabakh such consultations were launched in the beginning
of this year, and he hopes they will finish by the end of this year,
and the National Assembly will draw a conclusion.

By the way, Vahram Atanesyan said when Serge Sargsyan visited Karabakh,
he was busy with personal matters and he does not know whether Serge
Sargsyan has met with the NKR parliamentarians.

Vahram Atanesyan also said he does not share the opinion that the
settlement is close. He also disagrees to the Russian co-chair of
the OSCE Minsk Group that it is difficult to say whether the entire
public of Karabakh is against ceding the territories. He also stated
that the opinions=2 0of any mediators or experts are not dominant
for Karabakh. Vahram Atanesyan also says there is no panic among
the people of Karabakh that if they do not return the territories,
the war will ignite.

As to the participation of Karabakh in the talks, Vahram Atanesyan
stated that they want NKR to be part of the talks but it is necessary
to rely on facts. And the fact, according to Vahram Atanesyan, is
that even in 1994 NKR was not a full-right member of the talks because
the NKR foreign minister negotiated with the so-called leader of the
Azerbaijani community. According to Vahram Atanesyan, the wish of NKR
is equal participation with Armenia and Azerbaijan. Vahram Atanesyan
says it encounters difficulties but those difficulties are possible
to overcome.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress