DEMOCRATIC PARTY LEADER SAYS ARMENIA SHOULD PRESS FOR MAINTENANCE OF KARABAKH CURRENT STATUS QUO
Armenpress
Jun 28 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 28, ARMENPRESS: Aram Sarkisian, a parliament member
from the opposition Ardarutyun (Justice) alliance and also head of
a minor Democratic Party, argued today that Armenia must press for
maintenance of the current status quo of Nagorno-Karabakh, because
any other option would lead to further deterioration of the situation.
Speaking to a news conference today Aram Sarkisian said judging from
what was revealed lately by the US cochairman in the OSCE Minsk group,
Mathew Bryza, the only acceptable option for Armenia is holding of
a referendum on Karabakh status, but he added that the people of
Karabakh had already held referendum back in early 1990s.
He said however, Azerbaijan has also expressed its position on it
saying that the referendum can be held only in line with requirements
of its constitution, which means holding referendum in entire
Azerbaijan.
Sarkisian said Nagorno-Karabakh will never agree to it.
He then argued that the USA wants a soonest resolution of the conflict
as it wants to deploy NATO peace-keeping troops in the zone, which
he said would result not only in shattered balance of regional forces
but also in spoiled Iran-Armenia relations.