BAKO SAHAKIAN: SERIOUS PROGRESS IN NEGOTIATIONS PROCESS OF NAGORNO KARABAKH SETTLEMENT TO BE EXPECTED ONLY IN CASE OF RESTORATION OF REAL FORMAT
Noyan Tapan
July 3, 2009
YEREVAN, JULY 3, NOYAN TAPAN. Issues relating to the negotiations
process of the Nagorno Karabakh settlement were discussed at the
July 2 meeting in Yerevan between OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Foreign
Minister of Greece Dora Bakoyannis and President of the Republic of
Nagorno Karabakh Bako Sahakian.
As Bako Sahakian informed journalists at the end of the meeting,
the Karabakh side addressed proposals to the Chairperson-in-Office,
listened to her views on the negotiations process and issues raised
by the NKR authorities.
Answering the question "How do you estimate the efforts of Armenia
in the direction of the Nagorno Karabakh settlement?", the NKR
President mentioned that at the moment, the authorities of Armenia, in
particular, the Foreign Ministry, do their best to first of all restore
the real format of the negotiations process, that is, participation
of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic in the negotiations process. "Only
after restoration of that format, we may expect a serious progress
in the negotiations process," the NKR President said. The Karabakh
side asked the Chairperson-in-Office to use their competences in the
direction of restoring that format.
B. Sahakian mentioned on the occasion of the ceasefire violation
cases by Azerbaijan that during the previous meeting with the OSCE
Chairperson-in-Office, the NKR presented two proposals: to increase the
observation group’s technical means and to move back the snipers. The
issue was raised at this meeting as well. On the occasion of the
Armenian servicemen’s appearing on the Azerbaijan side, Bako Sahakian
mentioned: "We consider it necessary that the military and political
authorities of Azerbaijan express proper attitude and do not politize
similar cases," and the NKR authorities take measures to decrease
the number of such cases and to fully eradicate them.
The NKR President’s main expectation from the regular meeting of
the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan in Moscow, in July is that
"sooner or later, the Azeri leadership ceases the policy conducted
by it and presents itself from more constructive positions." The NKR
President considers absurd the viewpoint expressed by the Azeri side
on granting autonomy to Nagorno Karabakh.