TO FIND BALANCE IN TALKS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT: LENNMARKER

news.am
March 12 2010
Armenia

March 12, OSCE Special Representative on Nagorno-Karabakh and Georgia
Goran Lennmarker gave an exclusive interview to NEWS.am correspondent.

Q.: What is your opinion about the adoption of Armenian Genocide
Resolution by Swedish Parliament?

A.: The decision reflects, of course, the feeling about it. There
is also a balance point there, because we want to see the process
between Turkey and Armenia on this matter to go forward, because that
is perhaps the most important part from the previous panel, important
to this now that the Armenian-Turkish process goes further. So I very
much hope that the relations between Turkey and Sweden will not be
damaged because of this, so that they don’t find an excuse not to go
further with this process.

Q.: Yesterday you stated that the format of Nagorno-Karabakh
negotiations shouldn’t be changed. Don’t you think participation of
Stepanakert or Nagorno-Karabakh will be more fruitful?

A.: I think now we should keep the format, because if we stop for
changing the format, then we talk about delaying the process, years,
because if you try to, if that that should be included I can assure
that there will demand from Azeri side to include representatives from
their occupied territories and you will have negotiations about the
negotiations and I don’t know how long it will take. I am pessimistic
that it will really stop.

Q.: In your opinion, in which principle Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
should be resolved — territorial integrity or self-determination?

A.: I think the balance is important and that is what the negotiation
in a way is about — to find the balance and make it acceptable for
Azerbaijan and Armenia. That is the difficulty of it, to find that
balance. I will say to support the negotiation process is extremely
important now, that we support what is going on in Minsk Group. I
will not try to tell how the Minsk Group get out of it and what will
be the result, because that is for your President Serzh Sargsyan and
for Azeri President to decide on.