RUBEN MEHRABYAN: ARMENIAN FORCES IN KARABAKH COULD NOT OCCUPY THEIR OWN SELVES

PanARMENIAN.Net
May 13, 2010 – 17:44 AMT 12:44 GMT

European Commission’s report on European Neighbourhood Policy contains
statements with both semantic and calendar inaccuracies, according
to ACNIS expert Ruben Mehrabyan .

As he stated in a conversation with PanARMENIAN.Net reporter, in 1990,
Armenian forces were physically unable to "occupy" Karabakh for a
simple reason: was already occupied by USSR interior troops headed
by Operation Ring leader General Safonov.

"As for Nagorno Karabakh "occupation" by "Armenian forces", the term
is not specific enough. At that time, Karabakh’s Armenian units,
composed of local volunteers, were fighting to defend themselves.

These people had no other choice in terms of hostility shown by Baku
and Moscow’s party leadership. Armenian population could either defend
themselves or leave their motherland, thus following the example of
Armenians residing in Azerbaijan. Having chosen the first option,
Armenian forces could not occupy their own selves.

By that time, however, Baku had no real power in Karabakh, which could
be given different names, but not an occupation on behalf of Armenia.

What happened next, namely, intensification of armed conflicts
escalating to full-scale war, was caused by Azerbaijan’s wish to
re-establish control over Karabakh, with Armenian side showing
resistance."

"Azeri sources construe the statement as European Commission’s
recognition of the fact of Karabakh’s occupation by Armenia,
the interpretation being much too loose. I believe, such ignorant
statements in European Committee’s annual report should be adequately
responded by Armenian Foreign Ministry. Provincialism official Yerevan
shows towards European Neighborhood Policy, creates favorable grounds
for voicing of certain statements. Official Yerevan fails to implement
real values, principles and standards of unified Europe. I do not
preclude that Armenian Foreign Ministry will keep indifferent silence,
allowing such interpretations to voiced in future, which I regret to
note," Ruben Mehrabyan emphasized.

"The main development in Armenia over the past year was the signing
of protocols on normalising relations with Turkey in October, mainly
through Swiss mediation. However, the ratification procedure stalled
after Turkey linked the opening of the border and the establishment
of diplomatic relations to progress in peace talks between Azerbaijan
and Armenia over Nagorno Karabakh, a territory inside Azerbaijan
that was occupied by Armenian forces in the 1990s. Armenia suspended
ratification in April, blaming Turkey for the lack of progress,"
European Neighbourhood Policy report said, European Voice reported.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress