ANCA DENOUNCES MINSK GROUP PRESSURE TO SECURE UNILATERAL ARMENIAN CONCESSIONS IN KARABAGH TALKS

armradio.am
15.07.2009 13:19

Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Chairman Ken Hachikian
expressed "profound disappointment" at the unreasonable pressure being
applied by the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe
(OSCE) Minsk Group Co-Chairs, which could threaten the viability of
Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh.

The concern was expressed in a July 14, 2009, letter to President
Obama, where Hachikian noted that the Minsk Group’s "heavy handed"
approach to secure unilateral and dangerous concessions by Armenians
regarding the Nagorno Karabagh conflict would "imperil the security
of Armenia, the Nagorno Karabagh Republic (NKR) and the Armenian
people; increase the prospects of renewed Azerbaijani aggression;
and undermine the ability of the actual parties to this conflict to
reach a truly lasting and durable peace."

Hachikian went on to argue that the Nagorno Karabagh Republic’s
participation in the peace process is fundamental to the success
of the endeavor. "As a direct party to this conflict, the primary
victim of Azerbaijan’s aggression, and a full stakeholder in the
search for regional peace, the Nagorno Karabagh Republic must be
a full and equal participant in all aspects of the peace process,"
explained Hachikian. Similar concerns were addressed in letters sent
to French Ambassador to the U.S. Pierre Vimont and Russian Federation
Ambassador Sergey Kislyak.

The ANCA has also initiated a letter writing campaign to President
Obama and the State Department as well as the Embassies of France
and Russia in the U.S. encouraging Armenian Americans and human
rights activists to express their thoughts to Minsk Group Co-Chair
country leaders.

The effort reflects worldwide Armenian apprehension following a
July 10 statement issued by U.S. President Barack Obama, French
President Nikolas Sarkozy and Russian Federation President Dmitry
Medvedev calling on Armenia and Azerbaijan to "to resolve the few
differences remaining between them" based on an updated version of
the "Basic Principles" advanced by the co-chairs in the November 2007
Madrid Document.