ACADEMICIAN ARA SARGSIAN: INSTEAD OF MAKING CONCESSIONS IN ISSUE OF KARABAKH ARMENIANS SHOULD DEMAND WESTERN ARMENIA

NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY
July 27, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JULY 27, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Solution of the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict on the basis of Madrid principles is
not beneficial for the Armenian side as geopolitical shocks and
remarcation of borders will take place in the South Caucasus in the
coming 3-5 years. Academician Ara Sargsian, a member of presidium
of the Russian Academy of Geopolitical Problems, stated at the
July 27 press conference. In his words, persons standing close to
the President being for Madrid Principles persuade him to continue
the negotiations over Madrid Principles from the considerations that
allegedly Azerbaijan will become stronger and stronger by getting huge
economic and military advantage over Armenia. However, as A. Sargsian
stressed, we should not forget that the Azeri side also had the same
possibilities in the early 1990s and nevertheless lost the war.

The academician mentioned that Armenia and Karabakh should cede
no inch of land to the enemy. In his conviction, the Moslem world
will perceive ceding territories as a sign of weakness. A. Sargsian
stated that instead of making concessions in the issue of Karabakh
the Armenians should demand Western Armenia from Azerbaijan.

Speaking about the probability of resumption of a war, he mentioned
that today there is indeed such a danger. According to A. Sargsian, it
is conditioned by two factors, Russian and British. As he explained it,
resumption of Armenian-Azeri war is in the interests of the Gazprom
Russian company and British Petroleum British company.

A. Sargsian advised the NKR authorities instead of criticizing
Yerevan to organize actions of protest in London, Moscow,
Washington. "Personally knowing Serzh Sargsyan I can say that by
his intellect he is not inferior to either Levon Ter-Petrosian or
Robert Kocharian," he added. According to A. Sargsian, having many
hard problems and receiving the 2008 March 1 cases as a "dowry"
the President tries to push forward country’s national interest.