Armenia, Azerbaijan `Close To Karabakh Deal'

[Gavur]

Evans: Border Defense – Priority Issue for Sovereign State

22.03.2006 20:10 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Raising the efficiency of the Armenian border defense proceeds from the interests of the entire international community, U.S. Ambassador John Evans stated during the opening ceremony of a new training center of the Armenian frontier troops. In his words, the U.S. has been for a long time assisting Armenia in exercising control of the state borders. “The whole world should be interested in non-proliferation. For a sovereign state like Armenia the border defense becomes a priority issue and we are glad to render assistance in such an important matter,” the U.S. Ambassador to RA said.

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EU: Attempts to Settle Karabakh Problem by Force to Have Grave Consequences

27.03.2006 19:02 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The European Union will directly participate in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement, EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus Peter Semneby stated. “Resolution of conflicts in the South Caucasus will be one of the EU’s priorities. This is a signal for a deeper engagement of the organization in the settlement of problematic situations,” he said in an interview with RFE/RL. In his words, he has “a slightly stronger mandate on involvement in frozen conflicts.” The EU representative acknowledged that both Armenia and Azerbaijan are facing serious difficulties in terms of their domestic opinion. “What may be necessary is to try to work with public opinion in the two countries to convey the message that neither side has anything to gain from playing on time,” he said. “Armenia will continue to be isolated if a solution is not found. And in the case with Azerbaijan where there are forces that argue that the country will gain economic strength and thereby also military it is necessary to send a clear message that an attempt on the Azeri side to resolve the conflict by military means will have very serious consequences. It may not be successful in the first place, and it will also seriously damage Azerbaijan in terms of its investment climate and reliability as a partner.”

[Gavur]

The Washington Post publishes NKR Representative's Letter

MEDIA ALERT

DATE: March 27, 2006
TO: Media Colleagues
RE: The Washington Post publishes NKR Representative's Letter

Today, The Washington Post published NKR Representative Vardan
Barseghian's letter to the Editor in response to a March 11, 2006
op-ed column entitled "Russia's Shadow Empire" by Ana Palacio and
Daniel Twining. Representative Barseghian's letter is included
below:

The Washington Post
Letters to the Editor
A Conflict Frozen

Monday, March 27, 2006; A14

The March 11 op-ed column "Russia's Shadow Empire" touched upon the
"frozen conflicts" on the territory of the former Soviet Union. The
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict remains "frozen" because of Azerbaijan's
unwillingness to accept the democratically expressed will of the
people of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Nagorno-Karabakh has never belonged to an independent Azerbaijan. It
has the legal, factual and moral prerequisites to pursue its
independence.

The authors of the op-ed piece advocated rewarding Azerbaijan for
its willingness to cooperate in ending this conflict. Do President
Ilham Aliyev's regular threats to launch a new war against
Nagorno-Karabakh count as goodwill?

The European Union and the United States should support the
aspirations of Nagorno-Karabakh to remain free and discourage
Azerbaijan from unleashing a new war. This would signal Azerbaijan
that it should embark on more constructive negotiations to bring
stability and economic cooperation to Europe's new neighborhood.

VARDAN BARSEGHIAN
Representative
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
Washington

* * *

This material is distributed by the Office of the Nagorno Karabakh
Republic in the USA (NKR Office) on behalf of the Government of the
Nagorno Karabakh Republic. The NKR Office is registered with the
U.S. Government under the Foreign Agent Registration Act. Additional
information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington,
D.C.

The Office of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic in the United States is
based in Washington, DC and works with the U.S. government, academia
and the public representing the official policies and interests of
the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, Artsakh.

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Baku Tries to Present Armenia as Aggressor, but Does It for Domestic Use

30.03.2006 21:38 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia pursues a clear and consistent policy in the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, Armenian President’s National Security Advisor Garnik Isagulyan stated, when answering questions of the hot line of the Golos Armenii. “I cannot say today to which extent Azerbaijan’s intention to quit talks is serious, however Armenia pursues a clear and consistent policy in the matter,” Garnik Isagulyan said. In his words, after the latest Kocharian-Aliyev meeting in Rambouillet is was clear that Armenia wishes and is ready to settle the NK conflict peacefully, however within certain limits. Exceeding those limits would pose a threat to Armenia’s national security, he added.

“Azerbaijan is naturally trying to present Armenia as an aggressor, however it is done for domestic use. The international community today finally understood the actual state of affairs. Thus, Azerbaijan’s quitting the process or not is its own problem. I do not see any external threat to Armenia,” Isagulyan said. “Some political forces stated right after Rambouillet that the meeting was a failure and Armenia is on the verge of war. However it is not so. The talks continue and the authorities continue their clear and consistent policy in the matter,” Garnik Isagulyan said.

[Gavur]

Armenian Foreign Minister Says No More Compromises On Karabakh

Mediamax news agency
5 Apr 06

Yerevan, 5 April: "If Azerbaijan shows the necessary political will,
we will move the talks forward and reach significant progress within
the coming months," Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan told a
joint news conference with the EU special envoy for the South Caucasus,
Peter Semneby, in Yerevan today.

"The most difficult issues still remain unresolved, but Armenia has
already made its compromises and it is not worth hoping for more
concessions," the minister said.

Vardan Oskanyan noted that there was still hope that agreement could
be reached on the principles of the Karabakh conflict settlement in
2006. "If we fail to achieve agreement this year, this will not be
doomsday," he said.

The Armenian foreign minister noted that most likely there would
be some clarity about further steps in the peace process after a
meeting of Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov with the
US co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group, Steven Mann, in Washington
in a few days.

"I met Steven Mann last week. He is aware of our position. If there is
some closeness of positions between the sides after the meeting with
the Azerbaijani foreign minister, then the mediators might visit the
region. After this the two countries' foreign ministers will meet,"
Vardan Oskanyan said.

The Armenian foreign minister noted that the Karabakh settlement was
the main topic at his talks with Peter Semneby today.

[Gavur]

Karabakh Analyst: Subjectivity And Double Standards Hinder Settlement

KARABAKH ANALYST: SUBJECTIVITY AND DOUBLE STANDARDS HINDER SETTLEMENT OF INTERNATIONAL CONFLICTS

Regnum, Russia
April 5 2006

"While solving all kinds of conflicts so-called 'double standards'
always appear. There is an opinion; these standards are negative
phenomenon, which hampers final conflict settlement, especially
international ones. But it would be a serious mistake categorically to
maintain rightfulness of such approach," expressed such opinion adviser
to Nagorno Karabakh president David Babayan, interviewed by REGNUM.

According to him, double standards are, first of all, clearly defined
state interests; and in such context, presence of double standards,
i.e. clear objective interests by different actors and interested
sides in conflict settlement, especially international ones, may give
additional impetus for the conflicts' settlement, because in case
of clash of different interests, inhered in both conflict parties
and external powers, possibility of finding compromise appears. "In
such case, the double standards become necessary element of conflict
settlement. But they really begin to hamper conflict settlement,
and sometimes worsen the situation, if they are based on subjective
approaches, because these can produce the complete opposite result.

Discrimination, as most dangerous result of subjectivism in double
standards, is most striking example of that," said David Babayan.

At the same time, he stressed, at present there are clear double
standards - both objective and subjective ones - in conflict
settlement, especially in post-Soviet space. "Among all foreign
actors the USA and Turkey have most clearly defined interests. Iran
has its permanent interests too. Changes of interests of Russia
are obvious. Parties, which immediately conflict, have rather clear
position in Nagorno Karabakh settlement. Europe as whole has more or
less unclear interests, and it may be explained by fact, that Europe
is still forming, and continuing to look for compromise foreign policy
doctrine. The latter becomes rather apparent during visits of some
European politicians to the region too", said the analyst.

As an example David Babayan named former Spain Foreign Minister Anna
Palacio, who visited Stepanakert as member of group of analysts and
former politicians two years ago. "I had occasion to speak with her
at length on the Nagorno Karabakh settlement process. Of course,
the matter concerned territories. Palacio did not know details of
the question, and I explained her, among other things, territorial
questions have many ingredients, in particular, political, military,
ecological aspects. She especially interested in ecological aspects,
and in the context, I presented her importance of Kelbajar area,
where 85% of water resources of former Nagorno Karabakh Autonomous
Republic originated, including rivers Arpa and Vorotan. They play key
role to rescue Lake of Sevan which contains 80% of Armenian water
reserves. Vitally importance of the territory, especially taking
into consideration facts of hydro-terror from Azerbaijan, as well
as its threat to repeat them in future, if the area is controlled by
Azerbaijan again, was stressed. On the following day Palacio told me,
she had been thinking about our conversation the whole night, and had
concluded, Kelbajar area might not be returned to Azerbaijan because
of guaranteeing water security of Nagorno Karabakh and Armenia. But
in her article in Washington Post, published on April 11 of this year,
Palacio stated, Armenia had to return Azerbaijan 'occupied territories,
around disputable territory, Karabakh must receive full autonomy
before definition of its final status' etc. It is nothing else, but
a subjective approach, and may be to a certain extent a mercantile
one, fully corresponding with winged words 'O tempora, o mores!',"
resumed David Babayan.

[Gavur]

The Ra Is Ready To Negotiate Without The Nkr Status Clarity

[07:37 pm] 18 April, 2006

INSIDE THE HALL

”We always claimed that the NKR status must be finally decided so that the Armenian side could negotiate and implement the procedure of abolishing military conflict outcomes; territory, refugee and security issues,” the RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan said today in the 8th session of the EU - Armenian Parliamentary Cooperation Committee and added that this position already changed as a compromise from the Armenian side and today’s position is as follows, “We simply say that the Azeri side accepted the fact that the population of Karabakh has a right to self-determination and even if the self-determination is to be realized in the future the Armenian side is ready to discuss the abolishment of the conflict outcome; the territory, refugee and security issues. I think this is a serious compromise from the Armenian side.” According to him the Azeri side has not responded yet and they have much work to do with the Azeri side so that they will make a “step ahead in favour of Armenia’.” Vardan Oskanyan also spoke of a one concerning matter - the Azeri militarist announcements, “If this problem had a military solution it would have been solved long ago. There is no solution, Armenians participated in two wars and won both of them but we don’t consider ourselves winners. We won the battle but the menace of the war is still apparent as Azerbaijan is inclined to make militarist announcements; but we need peace.” Then Vardan Oskanyan asked the Europeans to make the Azeri stop their militarist oratory, “They must be clearly told that nobody will allow them to launch a war with Armenia, this will be very essential and I think that the EC will be involved in this procedure, Azerbaijan must realize that there is no other alternative for peaceful settlement.”

OUTSIDE THE HALL

The Foreign Minister told the journalists after his speech during the briefing, “Even judging from the Azeri announcements we can assume that the compromise spirit is not the same with the two sides. We stepped into a phase which requires compromise spirit and political will power. Without them the prospect of the conflict peaceful settlement is improbable and obscure. The Azeri announcements arouse concern and it is very vital that the EC and other European institutions put the question directly before Azerbaijan.” The Foreign Minister informed that the co-chairs’ separate visits mustn’t be covered in other way, “There is no political matter, just the dates and schedules didn’t match; the co-chairs will visit the region together at the beginning of May.”

Asked the question whether the Minister is sure the Armenian society will accept the authorities’ decision to go on a compromise in such a way Oskanyan answered, “They are unaware of the details, the principle of regional wholeness has always been prevailing, that is why it is important today that the Armenian side fixes the right to self-determination at first and then goes ahead. Only after it we can share with the population.”

By the way, Vardan Oskanyan informed the Europeans in his speech that the meeting of the Presidents in Rambouillet was not a failure; “The Rambouillet meeting didn’t turn out well as the matter was not solved; the Presidents were not able to solve the issue but this was not a total failure of the procedure.”

he also stated that there was serious ground for the co-chairs meeting with the Presidents in Rambouillet, “It was agreed upon in 2005 and was put on the agenda of the day and it gave a hope for having certain progress and achievement in the next months,” said Vardan Oskanyan.
© Copyright «A1Plus.am», Armenia. 2006, Armenia. All Rights Reserved.
Articles may be reproduced, provided «A1Plus.am» is cited as the source

[Gavur]

War Will Be Azerbaijan's Last Mistake, Vartan Oskanian Declares

YEREVAN, APRIL 20, NOYAN TAPAN - ARMENIANS TODAY. "The European
Union is very much interested in the settlement of the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict, we are interested in the stability of the South
Caucasian region," State Secretary of Austrian Foreign Ministry,
Head of EU Troika delegation Hans Winkler declared at the April 20
press conference in Yerevan. According to him, EU tries to be useful
in the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and here EU does
everything depending on it. "We want to render unbiassed assistance and
try to apply all possible measures for the settlement of the conflict
but this is the issue that should be solved by the sides," Winkler
declared. According to Vartan Oskanian, the Nagorno Karabakh people
itself should have the right to solve the issue what political status
it wants to have. "If Azerbaijan recognizes the Karabakh people's
right of self-determination, in this case the Armenian side is ready
to seriously discuss the issue about liquidating the consequences
of the war". According to the Minister, issues regarding liquidation
of the consequences of the war are issues of territories, refugees,
issues of security. As for the continuing bellicose statements of
Baku, the Armenian Foreign Minister declared: "We have repeatedly
said that the Karabakh problem has no solution through a war. The
war will be a great mistake by Azerbaijan, I think this will be
their last mistake". He again reiterated that a document regarding
the principles of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement is on
the negotiations table. At that, an agreement on part of them has
been already reached between the sides but the sides have not come
to agreement on some clauses yet. "The issues stated in the document
cannot change in their essence, they are formulated very precisely,"
the head of the Armenian foreign political department declared.

[Gavur]

Official Baku Affords Compliments To Yerevan

After the regional visits of American and French co-chairmen of the Minsk group accents of Armenian and Azeri diplomats have slightly changed.

24.04.2006 GMT+04:00

The official regional tour of the American co-chairman of OSCE Minsk group Steven Mann has drawn to an end. After negotiating with President Robert Kocharyan and Foreign Affairs Minister Vardan Oskanyan, Mann went to Baku where he met Ilham Aliev and Elmar Mamedyarov. Official summaries of press services do not allow to judge about the productivity of the American diplomat’s visit. However, it is quite obvious that in the negotiations process there is a certain stir up, which can bring to resumption of direct contacts between parties in the nearest future.
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ During the past few weeks co-chairman of the Minsk group have been making serious efforts towards leading the negotiation process out of deadlock. There is indeed an impression that in this issue Russia has taken up a more passive role. As it is known, the first impulse towards resumption of negotiations came from Americans. Later on the initiative was caught up by French co-chairman Bernard Fassie who arrived in the region with a concrete package of proposals. Bernard Fassie’s mission was continued by Steven Mann. Meanwhile, Russian co-chairman Yuri Merzlyakov still refrains from trips to Caucasus and follows the process from aside. Nevertheless, it would be wrong to say that Moscow is keeping away from the process. On April 19 in Moscow Steven Mann held negotiations with his Russian colleague and a high-ranking diplomat, most likely the deputy foreign minister. As for foreign minister Sergey Lavrov, he discussed the situation with his colleagues from Armenia and Azerbaijan during the conference of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of CIS countries. In any case, there are no grounds to assert that Russian diplomacy is refusing to support the latest initiatives of American and French co-chairmen. It is quite possible that already after a few days Yuri Merzlyakov will join the process, resumed in the Minsk group format.

To all appearance the efforts of mediators are not just a show of activity, but a real attempt to find new points of contact between the parties. Co-chairmen refused from the idea to start negotiations from the very beginning that is to say from the point where they were locked in Ramboulliet. Yerevan and Baku do not deny that the mediators have really presented new proposals for conflict regulation. However, Vardan Oskanyan thinks that it is more correct to speak not about “new principles of regulation” but “new formulations of principles”. This is already something if we take into account the fact that right after the initiatives were made high-ranking diplomats in Baku and Yerevan started making quite encouraging announcements. It is obvious that there will be changes. Will they result in an outbreak in the negotiation process? Let us wait and see.

Something has evidently changed in the approach of parties. Accents of announcements made by Armenian and Azeri diplomats have shifted. Recently Vardan Oskanyan made it clear that Yerevan will agree to discuss the possible return of Armenian controlled territories out of Karabakh if Azerbaijan agrees to recognize legitimacy of the referendum, which will be held later. “If Azerbaijan acknowledges the right of Nagorno Karabakh on self-determination not at once but in future, the Armenian party is ready to discuss issues concerning elimination of war consequences – territories, refugees, etc”, said the minister. This point was actually not discussed in Ramboulliet. In Ramboulliet parties could not come to agreement because of the extremely rigid position of official Baku. But now, through the lips of the head of information department Tair Tagizade, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan welcomes Vardan Oskanyan’s speech, which “testifies to the constructive position of Armenia. It can be viewed as an approval of the fact that the Armenian party adheres to peaceful negotiations and realizes national interests of Armenia”, said the official representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan.
What are these compliments for? Vardan Oskanyan did not say anything new. Yet before, Yerevan had expressed readiness to withdraw military forces from the security zone if Azerbaijan recognizes the right of Karabakh to self-determination. It is obvious that Azeris have suddenly ceased fearing the word “self-determination” which is an important symptom. It is possible that Baku leaders are trying to make people believe that recognizing the right to self-determination is not that dangerous. Commenting on his own words, Tagizade says that self-determination can function within Azerbaijan too. “Under self-determination we should understand giving a special status of autonomy in the structure of Azerbaijan” the diplomat says. However it is already not important what Azeris consider a desirable result of self-determination. By the way the people of Karabakh have already approved their readiness to conduct another referendum on the status of Nagorno-Karabakh. On Wednesday Arkady Ghukasyan said that the new referendum is quite possible since international community did not recognize the results of the referendum held in 1991.

Thus, there have been quite constructive announcements in all the three capitals involved in the conflict. Those statements allow hoping for if not an outbreak, but at least progress in the negotiation process. What is also important is that those things happen on the eve of Ilham Aliev’s visit to Washington. It appears that George Bush will appreciate Aliev’s readiness to review the rigid approaches, which brought to the failure of Ramboulliet meeting. Maybe this is what the Azeri diplomacy is relying on.

http://www.panarmenian.net/details/eng/?nid=659

[1.5 million]

Armenia has held and stated this exact position for years...