ARMENIAN LEADER OUTLINES COMPROMISE ON REBEL REGION

Reuters
pt/idINLDE62M1EW20100323?sp=true
March 23 2010
UK

Armenian forces could give back some Azeri territory held since the war
between the two countries in return for security and self-determination
for the region of Nagorno-Karabakh, President Serzh Sarksyan said.

Ethnic Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh, backed by Christian Armenia,
threw off the rule of Muslim Azerbaijan and seized seven surrounding
districts in a conflict in the early 1990s that killed some 30,000
people.

Diplomats say the return of the largely deserted districts is part
of negotiations that have been running for more than 15 years since
the war, but the move is highly sensitive for Armenians who see the
corridor they form to Nagorno-Karabakh as vital for its security.

Armenian officials rarely speak publicly about the details of a
potential peace package which would be crucial to lasting stability
in an energy transit region to the West.

Turkey says the districts have to be returned before it can ratify
a historic deal with longtime foe Armenia to mend ties and open
their border, closed by Ankara in 1993 in solidarity with close ally
Azerbaijan during the war.

In comments to the Syrian newspaper Al-Watan and published on Tuesday
on his official website, Sarksyan said:

"When the people of Karabakh get a true chance to realise their right
to self-determination and mechanisms for security and development
are created, then in compromise the Armenian side can consider the
return of the regions around Karabakh, preserving the corridor linking
Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia."

He warning that "unilateral concessions will deepen the existing
dangers and threats".

Nagorno-Karabakh has seen a spike in tensions since Armenia and Turkey
announced their rapprochement last year.

The deal has since stalled, in part due to a backlash from Azerbaijan,
an oil and gas producer which hosts oil majors including BP (BP.L:
Quote, Profile, Research), ExxonMobil (XOM.N: Quote, Profile, Research)
and Chevron (CVX.N: Quote, Profile, Research).

Azerbaijan frequently threatens to take back Nagorno-Karabakh by
force. (Reporting by Hasmik Lazarian; writing by Matt Robinson;
editing by Andrew Roche)