Does Armenia’s Liberal Progressive Party assume Karabakh can be returned to Azerbaijan?
Regnum, Russia
Oct 19 2006
"In 2006, there is a chance of moving forward in the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict settlement," leader of Armenia’s Liberal Progressive Party
Hovhannes Hovhannissyan has announced at a news conference on October
19. As a REGNUM correspondent reports, according to the party leader,
Yerevan and Baku have almost agreed on all principal questions, and
only the issue of Kelbajar is not settled yet. "According to the data
I have, the Armenian and Azerbaijani side have already agreed on this
issue too, and it will be fully settled at the upcoming meeting of
Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers," Hovhannes Hovhannissyan
noted adding that both the USA and French President Jacques Chirac
are interested in solving the issue.
The party leader noted also that several months ago the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict was considered to be a part of the Iranian dossier,
and up to now the settlement is seen as a separate process. At the
same time, Hovhannes Hovhannissyan mentioned that in the coming years
terms of Armenian and Nagorno Karabakh presidents will expire, and
they will be trying to maintain the status quo until their terms are
over. "The soonest settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict is in
Armenia’s interests," the politician believes.
Speaking on the address of the Abkhaz parliament to the Russian
president and parliament, the Armenian party leader labeled it as
"absurd." According to him, "Russia will never recognize Abkhazia’s
independence, because otherwise world community will recognize
independence of Chechnya." "Abkhazia lost its chance to become a
sovereign state, and such decision was possibly made under dictation of
Russia aimed at further deterioration of the Georgian-Abkhaz relations,
as well as establishment of a reason for the Abkhaz side to force out
Georgian Armed Forces from Kodori Gorge," the Liberal Progressive Party
leader notes adding that international community will never allow that
"a part of one sovereign state joins another sovereign state."
Commenting to a REGNUM correspondent on the statement of the
Armenian politician, expert on South Caucasus Viktor Yakubyan noted:
"It is difficult to say, for what reasons Hovhannissyan deprives
the Abkhaz people of the right for sovereignty. As far as I know,
the Armenian diplomacy is stubbornly trying to prove that the right
of a nation for self-determination (especially, won in a war) is no
less important than the principle of territorial integrity of this
or that sovereign state. Why, following the logic of the politician,
is Abkhazia’s joining Russia (although Abkhazia did not ask for it,
they claim for independence and associate relations with Russia)
impossible, and Nagorno Karabakh’s joining Armenia possible? Well,
maybe Mr. Hovhannissyan meant a different outcome speaking on prospects
of Karabakh settlement? Say, Karabakh people yield to the will of
Azerbaijan? In this case, logic ca the Liberal Progressive Party
leader is clear. Otherwise, it is nothing but application of double
standards, in which it is difficult to suspect him, although he is
a staunch supporter of Atlantism."
From: Baghdasarian