ACCORDING TO LEVON TER-PETROSIAN’S ESTIMATION, CURRENT DOCUMENT ON
KARABAKH IS THE SAME STAGE-BY-STAGE PLAN PLUS TALKS ABOUT REFERENDUM
YEREVAN, JANUARY 11, NOYAN TAPAN. The logic of the negotiations process
on the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict should be
based on the document, which is on the negotiations table today, and on
the logic of the situation formed around the negotiations. First RA
President Levon Ter-Petrosian stated at the January 11 press
conference, touching upon the issue of his first steps on the
settlement of the conflict in case of being elected President.
According to him, the process of negotiations is a system having
different stages. Today the process of negotiations is at an absolutely
different stage than it was ten years ago when he was President. L.
Ter-Petrosian stated that he is acquainted with the current proposals
of the Co-chairs. However, not being an official person, he does not
comment them. Meanwhile he mentioned that the content of the current
document is the same stage-by-stage plan plus talks about the Nagorno
Karabakh status and holding a referendum on that issue.
According to Levon Ter-Petrosian, the settlement of the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict should be the basis of the possible normalization of
Armenia’s relations with Azerbaijan. According to his estimation, the
current Armenian authorities have held a non-constructive policy to
Azerbaijan so far, which was aimed at failing the settlement of the
Nagorno Karabakh problem.
As regards the issue of normalization of the relations with Turkey, in
Ter-Petrosian’s opinion, Turkey will open the border in case of the
settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. At that, according to him,
achievement of a final settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh problem is
not obligatory in this respect, achievement of a perceptible progress
in the process of negotiations on the conflict’s peaceful settlement is
enough.
As regards the relations with Russia, Ter-Petrosian mentioned that in
the years of his presidency these relations distinguished themselves by
a high extent of mutual respect, correctness, and mutual profit. "There
were no relations of a suzerain and a vassal then. I am sure than in
case of my returing to power these traditions will be continued," L.
Ter-Petrosian stated.