EUROPEAN INTEGRATION NGO’S CHAIRMAN: NEGOTIATIONS OVER NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT ARE AT ACTIVE YET NOT DECISIVE STAGE

NOYAN TAPAN
FEBRUARY 17, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 17, NOYAN TAPAN. No serious shift has been recorded
in the Nagorno Karabakh settlement negotiations process lately:
the only new thing was that the sides were given a possibility
to make their own proposals. Karen Bekarian, the Chairman of the
European Integration NGO, expressed such an opinion at a February
17 press conference. In his words, using the right of a proposal
Azerbaijan declared that it agrees to the renewed variant of the
Madrid Principles. According to K. Bekarian, Azeri side’s such
readiness is not surprising as the Azeris had signed already under
the statement released by five Foreign Ministers in Athens, which
also mentioned the right of nations for self-determination. The
European Integration Chairman added that Azerbaijan will always
use the possibility of manoeuvring. According to him, the proper
negotiations with many meetings proceed very actively. However, as
K. Bekarian meanwhile mentioned, it will be wrong to assert that the
sides are at a decisive stage.

Touching upon Serzh Sargsyan’s speech in England he declared that the
RA President reaffirmed his position in the issue of Nagorno Karabakh,
as well as in the issue of Armenia-Turkey relations. According to K.

Bekarian, it followed from that speech that Armenia will continue
carrying out initiating foreign policy.