ALIYEV’S CONGRATULATION ON ARMENIAN ARMY DAY WAS THE ONLY PROGRESS, MELIK SHAHNAZARYAN CONSIDERS
Karen Ghazaryan

"Radiolur"
30.01.2009 18:09

After the meeting of the Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents in Davos
the Co-Chairs again released an optimistic statement, expressing hope
that the parties will be able to bridge the remaining differences
in the nearest future to secure a peace agreement that is far better
for all parties than the status quo. To what extent is this optimism
real? The political views on the question are not univocal.

Political scientist Levon Melik-Shahnazaryan told a press conference
today that nothing new has happened and nothing new is expected.

Responding to the opinion that the fact of non-suspension of Armenia’s
voting right at PACE was closely connected with the Karabakh issue,
Levon Melik-Shahnazaryan said he would have no concerns even in case
Armenia was deprived of the voting right and added: "I don’t think
the Artsakh issue has anything to do here. They simply want that
there is no war in Artsakh, since they feed from the energy carriers
in that region."

Political scientist Sergey Shakaryants keeps to the same
opinion. According to him, the mandate of resolving the conflict
belongs to the Minsk Group Co-chairs and no other structure can get
involved in the settlement of the issue.

For Europe the recurrent meeting of Presidents and the optimistic
assessments were just a step that does not result in serious processes,
Levon Melik-Shahnazaryan stated. He noted also that there has been no
shift in the positions of Armenia, Artsakh or Azerbaijan. The only
progress that the political scientist notes is connected with the
17th anniversary of the Armenian Army which coincided with the day
of the Presidents’ meeting.

"According to my information, Aliyev congratulated our President on
Army Day, perhaps wishing to have a similar Army." There is no other
progress, and there could not be any, Levon Melik-Shahnazaryan said.

Analyst Sergey Shakaryants does not anticipate any rapprochement in
2009, either. "With their statement following the recurrent meeting
of the Presidents the Co-Chairs expressed hope that the parties will
be able to bridge the remaining differences in the nearest future
to secure a peace agreement. However, Sergey Shakaryants considers
reality is too far from their statements."

Noting that as usual US Co-Chair Matthew Bryza was the most active,
Levon Melik-Shahnazaryan added: "Perhaps that person was born an
optimist. We already know that it is impossible to hear the truth from
Bryza. Everywhere he says the things people want to hear from him."

Sergey Shakaryants has the same impression. Recalling that Bryza once
declared that Karabakh’s participation was very important to them,
Shakaryants noted: "I think it’s a lie."

According to Levon Melik-Shahnazaryan, Bryza’s style of work has other
reasons. The political scientist considers that Bryza is not sure
he will stay in the Minsk Group. Therefore, he tries to wrap up his
activity so as to be remembered with good words. As for the optimism
of the Co-Chairs, the speaker says their approach is natural. "This is
a good job, and they would like to keep it." He added, however, that
the Karabakh issue will never be solved at the bargaining table. "Our
demands are controversial, there are no edges of rapprochement,"
Melik-Shahnazaryan concluded.