IN OPINION OF 61.30% SURVEY PARTICIPANTS, MADRID PRINCIPLES ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE FOR ARMENIA AND NKR
NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY
August 26, 2009
Yerevan
An online survey on the subject "Are Madrid Principles acceptable for
Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh?" was held between July 20 to August 20
by the Research Center for Political Developments.
61.30% or 1239 answered "no" to the question. 24.34% or 492 answered
"yes" and 14.25% or 288 "I don’t know."
As Center Chairman Vahan Dilanian reported at an August 26 press
conference, 18-40-year-old Internet users of Armenia and Diaspora
participated in the survey. In his words, the survey was held
within the framework of two separate groups – 18-30-year-old young
people distinguished by public activity and representatives of the
25-40-year-old expert-scientific-pedagogical community. The survey was
sent to 3651 people, 2021 of which answered the question, including
121 from the first group and 1900 from the second group. According
to the observation of the center chairman, the results show that
the first group, young people take much less interest in the Nagorno
Karabakh settlement.
In V. Dilanian’s opinion, the revised Madrid Principles to be presented
by October will not differ much from the current principles. Thus,
according to him, the current public opinion will remain the
same. Therefore, in his words, the Armenian authorities being
considered a negotiations party should take into consideration this
public opinion and undertake proper steps to overcome the created
atmosphere.
V. Dilanian also said that societies of both Armenia and Azerbaijan
are not ready yet for accepting any compromise variant. According to
him, the status quo kept so far was beneficial for both sides.