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YOUTH MEETING OVER
Azat Artsakh - Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
24 Nov 04
On November 15-19 the representatives of youth organizations of
Armenia, as well as 11 representatives from 9 foreign countries
were visiting Artsakh. The visit was organized by the foundation
"All-Armenian Youth International Center". The members of the
delegation met with several top officials of the republic, as
well as representatives of public organizations, journalists and
students. KARABAKH CANNOT OBEY AZERBAIJAN. The guests offered
questions on the official position of the government concerning
the Karabakh problem, talks, relationships between Karabakh and
Russia to the foreign minister of NKR Ashot Ghulian. Dwelling
upon the Artsakh movement, the situation and developments in the
country the minister emphasized that economically developed Karabakh
cannot obey the Republic of Azerbaijan where even the rights of the
citizens of Azerbaijan are violated. The representative of Serbia
was interested in Russia's influence on the Karabakh settlement. The
foreign minister mentioned particularly that Russian influence is
present in Nagorni Karabakh like in the other countries of the South
Caucasus. "This question may be related to Azerbaijani propaganda
also, and if proceed from its statements, there are no Armenians
here and Russians fought in the Karabakh war instead of the people
of Karabakh. I think that at least your impressions must confirm that
this was not and is not the case." According to the minister, Russia
behaved adequately in the years of the Karabakh confrontation. At that
time when our region was a so-called undiscovered point on the map for
the international community, Russia assumed the main difficulty as a
mediator in the settlement of the Karabakh conflict. It was through
its direct mediation that the cease-fire was maintained in 1994. The
minister emphasized that there are wide-scale public relations
between the people of Karabakh and Russia but at the political level
the attitude of Russia towards Karabakh does not differ from that
of other countries. In answer to the question on the steps taken
towards activating the negotiation process, the minister said,
â~@~There are no enough resources for activating the negotiation
process. Generally, independent of the Karabakh conflict, the talks
cannot be the result of unilateral efforts and actions. Activation of
negotiations requires the interest of both Azerbaijan and us. Today
there is no interest on Azerbaijan's part, and the attempts of the
past year show the settlement of the Karabakh issue is not a priority
for Azerbaijan. Instead, through propaganda and different means an
attempt is made to create the impression that Azerbaijan is really
interested. The neighbour state keeps complaining of the activity of
mediators, and on the other hand, tries to make separate points of
the problem package subject of discussion at different international
organizations. Recently an attempt was being made to discuss a similar
question at the General Assembly of the UN. Of course, we do not mind
the discussion of the problems of territories or refugees but these
cannot be considered outside the general context." FIRST TO PREPARE
FOR FURTHER COOPERATION. During the round tables
held in
the framework of the visit an important topic of discussion was the
protests of the neighbour state against the international programs
implemented in Artsakh. This undertaking was not an exception either;
the Azerbaijanis had tried to prevent the program and the visit of
the young people to Karabakh. Foreign minister Ashot Ghulian assured
that in Karabakh no political context is attached to the visits and
meetings with guests adding that Karabakh is, indeed, interested in
the visit of young people from different countries. They will see the
developments, success and drawbacks in our republic themselves and
they will have an objective opinion on the region and our country. Of
course, the Armenian side would like Azerbaijani representatives be
included in the group as after the visit they would certainly return
home with different ideas. The foreigners were surprised at the fact
that despite the Artsakh war and the Armenian genocide the Armenian
young people still wish to cooperate with the Azerbaijanis. By
the way, before the visit the foundation "All-Armenian Youth
International Center" conducted a public opinion poll among the
youth organizations in Karabakh on cooperation between Karabakh
and Azerbaijani youth. About 40 per cent were against cooperation
with Azerbaijanis for the reason that during visits in Azerbaijan
there is no confidence for the security of visitors. The fact that
Karabakh is not recognized may, in fact, have a negative effect upon
cooperation between Karabakh and European youth organizations. As the
representative of Italy mentioned during the round table, the European
organizations will not sponsor a program where Karabakh participates as
one of the sides. In this respect it is easier to cooperate with the
youth organizations of Moldavia, Georgia, Ukraine, for instance. In
answer to the question what results this visit produced in terms of
cooperation the representative of Italy said that before speaking about
cooperation it is necessary to think on how to start it. Cooperation
is possible only through a youth organization of Armenia. During the
visit the representatives of youth organizations of Artsakh came to the
conclusion that it is, first of all, necessary to undertake courses
for preparation of programs, ways of cooperation. Representatives of
certain organizations of Armenia promised to cooperate with them.
AA.
24-11-2004
--Boundary_(ID_Tqlq3dxd4McbY/Uoxbb1YQ)--
Azat Artsakh - Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
24 Nov 04
On November 15-19 the representatives of youth organizations of
Armenia, as well as 11 representatives from 9 foreign countries
were visiting Artsakh. The visit was organized by the foundation
"All-Armenian Youth International Center". The members of the
delegation met with several top officials of the republic, as
well as representatives of public organizations, journalists and
students. KARABAKH CANNOT OBEY AZERBAIJAN. The guests offered
questions on the official position of the government concerning
the Karabakh problem, talks, relationships between Karabakh and
Russia to the foreign minister of NKR Ashot Ghulian. Dwelling
upon the Artsakh movement, the situation and developments in the
country the minister emphasized that economically developed Karabakh
cannot obey the Republic of Azerbaijan where even the rights of the
citizens of Azerbaijan are violated. The representative of Serbia
was interested in Russia's influence on the Karabakh settlement. The
foreign minister mentioned particularly that Russian influence is
present in Nagorni Karabakh like in the other countries of the South
Caucasus. "This question may be related to Azerbaijani propaganda
also, and if proceed from its statements, there are no Armenians
here and Russians fought in the Karabakh war instead of the people
of Karabakh. I think that at least your impressions must confirm that
this was not and is not the case." According to the minister, Russia
behaved adequately in the years of the Karabakh confrontation. At that
time when our region was a so-called undiscovered point on the map for
the international community, Russia assumed the main difficulty as a
mediator in the settlement of the Karabakh conflict. It was through
its direct mediation that the cease-fire was maintained in 1994. The
minister emphasized that there are wide-scale public relations
between the people of Karabakh and Russia but at the political level
the attitude of Russia towards Karabakh does not differ from that
of other countries. In answer to the question on the steps taken
towards activating the negotiation process, the minister said,
â~@~There are no enough resources for activating the negotiation
process. Generally, independent of the Karabakh conflict, the talks
cannot be the result of unilateral efforts and actions. Activation of
negotiations requires the interest of both Azerbaijan and us. Today
there is no interest on Azerbaijan's part, and the attempts of the
past year show the settlement of the Karabakh issue is not a priority
for Azerbaijan. Instead, through propaganda and different means an
attempt is made to create the impression that Azerbaijan is really
interested. The neighbour state keeps complaining of the activity of
mediators, and on the other hand, tries to make separate points of
the problem package subject of discussion at different international
organizations. Recently an attempt was being made to discuss a similar
question at the General Assembly of the UN. Of course, we do not mind
the discussion of the problems of territories or refugees but these
cannot be considered outside the general context." FIRST TO PREPARE
FOR FURTHER COOPERATION. During the round tables
held in
the framework of the visit an important topic of discussion was the
protests of the neighbour state against the international programs
implemented in Artsakh. This undertaking was not an exception either;
the Azerbaijanis had tried to prevent the program and the visit of
the young people to Karabakh. Foreign minister Ashot Ghulian assured
that in Karabakh no political context is attached to the visits and
meetings with guests adding that Karabakh is, indeed, interested in
the visit of young people from different countries. They will see the
developments, success and drawbacks in our republic themselves and
they will have an objective opinion on the region and our country. Of
course, the Armenian side would like Azerbaijani representatives be
included in the group as after the visit they would certainly return
home with different ideas. The foreigners were surprised at the fact
that despite the Artsakh war and the Armenian genocide the Armenian
young people still wish to cooperate with the Azerbaijanis. By
the way, before the visit the foundation "All-Armenian Youth
International Center" conducted a public opinion poll among the
youth organizations in Karabakh on cooperation between Karabakh
and Azerbaijani youth. About 40 per cent were against cooperation
with Azerbaijanis for the reason that during visits in Azerbaijan
there is no confidence for the security of visitors. The fact that
Karabakh is not recognized may, in fact, have a negative effect upon
cooperation between Karabakh and European youth organizations. As the
representative of Italy mentioned during the round table, the European
organizations will not sponsor a program where Karabakh participates as
one of the sides. In this respect it is easier to cooperate with the
youth organizations of Moldavia, Georgia, Ukraine, for instance. In
answer to the question what results this visit produced in terms of
cooperation the representative of Italy said that before speaking about
cooperation it is necessary to think on how to start it. Cooperation
is possible only through a youth organization of Armenia. During the
visit the representatives of youth organizations of Artsakh came to the
conclusion that it is, first of all, necessary to undertake courses
for preparation of programs, ways of cooperation. Representatives of
certain organizations of Armenia promised to cooperate with them.
AA.
24-11-2004
--Boundary_(ID_Tqlq3dxd4McbY/Uoxbb1YQ)--