Any attempt of military action by Azerbaijan will bring it in direct
confrontation with the international community
By Aram Araratyan, ArmInfo, 10.12.09
2009-12-13 14:12:00
ArmInfo’s exclusive interview with Dennis Sammut, Executive Director
of the LINKS NGO
Will the Armenian-Turkish Protocols be ratified and will it result in
opening of the border?
Signing of the protocols between Armenia and Turkey on 10 October in
Geneva was an important moment in history. For the first time since
the Kars Treaty the two countries have sat together and agreed on
future relations. It took over 80 years for this to happen so I think
that waiting a few more days until the process of ratification is
properly completed in the two countries is not the major issue. It is
important for the two sides to understand that they should not lose
the momentum. The sooner the protocols are ratified, the better. I
would like to see the opening of the border between
Armenia and Turkey as soon as possible, for I think this will be a
very significant gesture that will change the current situation to
better.
Do you think that the Armenian-Turkish reconciliation is an
independent process or it depends on progress in the Karabakh peace
process?
Indeed, relations between any two countries are their own business.
However it would be naive not understanding that what happens in the
relations between Armenia and Turkey impacts the Karabakh peace
process and vice versa. But I would prefer being more optimistic about
this situation. Progress in either of the processes will help ensuring
progress in the other one.
Ilham ALiyev again threatened Armenia with military actions during the
recent meeting at the top level in Munich. Do you believe that it was
a regular rhetorical statement or blackmail to make Armenia go on
concessions in the Karabakh process?
War is not a solution to any of the problems in the South Caucasus and
it should be avoided at all costs. LINKS published a report on
settlement of the Karabakh conflict on December 1. It, particularly,
says: `It is now time for the international community to speak with
one voice and in more robust tones to both sides. Some messages that
have been transmitted before, but in cautious diplomatic language need
to be repeated in more clear terms and without ambiguity in such a way
that not only the leaderships, but
also the populations of the two countries, will understand clearly.
Armenia needs to be told that the continued occupation of the
Azerbaijani territories around Nagorno Karabakh is neither acceptable
nor sustainable. Azerbaijan must be told that any attempt or talk of
regaining these territories by force without a UN Security Council
resolution will bring Azerbaijan in direct confrontation with the
international community. Both sides must be reminded of the right of
all refugees and IDPs to return to their homes in safe and dignified
conditions.
In case Azerbaijan unleashes war in Nagorny Karabakh again, what will
be the scenario of developments in the region and the response by the
international community?
Armenia and Azerbaijan will hardly start a new war. I think we are on
the threshold of an important breakthrough. I believe that everybody
should put their maximum effort towards this and coordinate basic
principles on which peaceful processes may be based. It is also time
to build a national consensus for peace in both countries. Some say
that there is already a national consensus but in reality this is a
consensus built on slogans and maximalist positions. What is needed
now is something more real and
more serious. In this the responsibility is not only with the
governments but also with politicians and public leaders of all
parties.
There is now a need for a different engagement by the international
community. Support for the Minsk process must increase, but other
things also need to be done beyond that. If there is a breakthrough in
the next weeks this will not be the end of the story, but the
beginning of a new stage.
Both the governments and the international community have still much
to do for an agreement on paper to be turned into a proper peace
process. The ownership of such an agreement must not remain a monopoly
of a tiny political elite but be shared within the wider community on
both sides.
I believe that everybody should put their maximum effort towards this
since a solution to the Karabakh conflict will bring a new dawn to the
Caucasus region and will start the process of finally fully
integrating the region within the global processes for the benefit of
both the people of the region and of other nations with a stake in its
success.