"NKR MUST PARTICIPATE IN THE TALKS"
Evika Babayan
Azat Artsakh, Republic of Nagorno Karabakh
March 5 2007
Recently the international conference "The South Caucasus: New Reality,
New Challenges" was held in Armenia. From Nagorno Karabakh the head
of the Civic Action Center NGO Albert Voskanyan was present.
He said the conference was held by the Concord Center for
political and legal research. Political scientists, experts and the
representatives of South Caucasian NGOs were present. In his speech,
the Nagorno-Karabakh representative said with regard to the settlement
of the issue of Karabakh: "Time showed that the Aliyev-Kocharyan talks
are not productive. The talks have lasted for a few years without any
progress. The publics of the sides are unaware of the proposals on
the ground, which gives rise to provocations. I think the government
of Nagorno Karabakh and namely President Arkady Ghukasyan must take
part in the talks. Nagorno Karabakh participated in the talks as
a conflict side until 1997, then for whatever reason it was left
out of the process. The people of Karabakh must be responsible for
their fate. Armenia, Russia and the other stakeholders must help
reach a lasting solution." According to Albert Voskanyan, one of
the essential conditions is the efforts to create confidence and to
overcome adversity between the publics of the conflict sides. "A
lasting solution is possible through reasonable compromise only,"
Albert Voskanyan said.