AZG Armenian Daily #126, 05/07/2007
Karabakh Issue
ARKADI GHUKASIAN: "THE SETTLEMENT IS POSSIBLE IF THERE IS AN AGREEMENT
ON PUTTING AN END TO MILITARY ACTIONS AND ARMED CONFLICT"
"Azerbaijan did nothing to gain the confidence of Karabakh people
during the last 15 years; instead it chose the policy of threat and
blackmails", announced NKR President Arkadi Ghukasian during his
meeting with the students of Yerevan Russian-Armenian (Slavonic) State
University on June 3.
"Instead of making efforts to settle the conflict, the Azerbaijani
side tries to present Armenia to the world community as a side of
conflict. There is only one way out of the created situation:
participation of Karabakh in the negotiation process", said Arkadi
Ghukasian.
"If Azerbaijan continues its destructive policy, Karabakh will just
stop its efforts to become a side of negotiation process and the
negotiations will be moved aside. All the efforts will be directed to
make the world community to recognize the independence of Nagorno
Karabakh: in that case without Azerbaijan. The Azerbaijani side must
understand that Karabakh cannot be always dependent of its caprices.
The OSCE group, deeply understanding the actual and juridical sides of
the conflict, avoids discussing that issue and yields to the caprices
of Azerbaijan", announced NKR President Arkadi Ghukasian.
As NKR President always mentions this kind of negotiation format is
useless and the conflict cannot be settled without participation of
Karabakh in the negotiation process.
"We are sure that the settlement process can be started only after
signing an agreement on putting an end to military actions and armed
conflict. This agreement, in its turn, is possible only after the
efficient dialogue between Azerbaijan and NKR, and recognition of the
independence of Karabakh by Azerbaijan", said Arkadi Ghukasian.
In the created atmosphere of no-confidence it is not possible to speak
of compromises. "We can yield to partners but not the enemy, not the
one who has chosen the way of threats", announced NKR President.
"And if Azerbaijan continues it’s advocating, NKR will review its
approaches. Kosovo can serve as an example for Karabakh conflict
settlement", said NKR President.
Touching upon the parliamentary elections in Nagorno Karabakh Arkadi
Khukasian evaluated the pre-election state in NKR as almost perfect.
"If the world community doesn’t even recognize the elections in NKR,
they cannot be indifferent to the election process. The democratic
processes are the most important things, so we understand, that what
is sometimes excusable for the recognized states, it’s not pardonable
for the not-recognized", underscored Arkadi Ghukasian.
NKR presidential elections will be free, just and transparent
according to NKR President.
By Aghavni Harutyunian