PRESIDENT HAS SET A GOAL – A MORE ACTIVE FOREIGN POLICY
KarabakhOpen
19-03-2008 11:59:28
I think Azerbaijan received a distinct signal that the methods of
one-sided pressure do not work, said the NKR minister of foreign
affairs Georgy Petrosyan in an interview with the Azat Artsakh,
commenting on the recent vote to the UN resolution on Nagorno-Karabakh
presented by Azerbaijan, when 39 countries voted for the resolution
and 150 countries, including the Minsk Group, either voted against or
abstained. "Secondly, Azerbaijan proved that it is against the peace
settlement and is for the use of force to resolve the problem. In
this context, our ministries, both of Armenia and NKR, have a lot
to do. In fact, the president has set a goal – to conduct a more
active foreign policy, and it refers to both Armenian states," the
NKR foreign minister said.
"Azerbaijan used the political situation in Armenia to carry out a
complex plan. Baku is worried by the recognition of independence
of Kosovo and its behavior is an effort to prove to its public
and the international community that Kosovo is not a precedent for
Karabakh, ignoring the fact that the talks have been lasting for many
years, and the core issue is our status. On a closer look at the
steps of Azerbaijan, the continuing blockade of Armenia, frequent
provocations on the line of contact, the information war, one may
notice that Azerbaijan is in panic because it has pushed itself into
a deadlock. As a result of discussions in the UN Azerbaijan sustained
another defeat, although it is trying to present it to its public as
a moral victory. Certainly, it cannot produce no effect. It will do
by all means.
Therefore, our goal is not counteraction but pursuit of our own way,"
said the NKR foreign minister Georgy Petrosyan.
In answer to the question whether the initiative of Azerbaijan in
the UN and the skirmish on the line of contact are interrelated,
Georgy Petrosyan said that it once again demonstrated the goal of
that country: to discredit Karabakh through the offensive, to win
a moral victory, to pressure on the international community through
the UN. In fact, the goal was not fulfilled, which was a heavy blow
to Baku, he said.
As to the interrelation of the escalation on the line of contact
with the post-election period in Armenia and the pre-election period
in Azerbaijan, Georgy Petrosyan says the post-election incidents in
Yerevan which took human lives took place on March 1, on March 3 and
4 the Azerbaijani force attacked the positions of NKR, and it cannot
have been accidental. "Our army gave a counterblow. We invited the OSCE
Minsk Group to conduct a crisis monitoring. Azerbaijan did not allow
the mission to pass across its territory. This is more evidence that
Baku is likely to cause tension, the consequence of which, I think,
was very heavy for Azerbaijan," he says.
Georgy Petrosyan does not rule out that Azerbaijan will maintain
tension in order to solve internal political problems. He said
they take adequate steps, informing the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk
Group, and we expect the OSCE to make a political evaluation of the
incident. "I think the visit of Mr. Kasprzyk to the area of contact
will give reason for objective evaluations rather than the tradition
"parity" of accusations. This incident was extraordinary. We have
stated distinctly that if the OSCE does not make a political evaluation
of the incident, it will thereby encourage Azerbaijan to be freer
in it ambitions. After all, what is more important than peace in
this region? We want peace not because we are weak but because it
is what everyone needs. Did the Azerbaijani parents need the death
of those killed on that day? What problem is now being solved –
territorial integrity? Or are they trying to put pressure? They will
get a counteraction to pressure. And it must teach them a lesson,"
said the NKR foreign minister.