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POLITICAL FORCES ARE NOT INTERESTED IN THE PROBLEM OF KARABAKH
Lragir, Armenia
Dec 5 2006
The proposals offered at the table of negotiations over the Karabakh
conflict are acceptable for the Christian Democratic Party, stated
the leader of the CDP Khosrov Harutiunyan on December 5 at the Pastark
Club. "First of all, the resolution, namely territories in return for
security and referendum on status, I think, is highly favorable from
the point of view of negotiations," says Khosrov Harutiunyan. "At
any rate, I believe that the settlement should not be sought in
independence or as part of Azerbaijan, but somewhere in between. This
middle should be reached through a mechanism, and this mechanism is
the referendum," says the leader of the Christian Democratic Party,
mentioning that Karabakh cannot be subject to Azerbaijan.
He says from the point of view of agreement on settlement of the
conflict it is a good opportunity because the interests of the powers
co-chairing the Minsk Group necessitate the settlement. "I think
in 2006 the co-chairs are trying to achieve a critical amount of
arrangements which would give rise to certain developments in 2007,
independent from the political developments in 2007," says Khosrov
Harutiunyan.
According to him, the conflict sides, the negotiating leaders perceive
the necessity of the settlement, whereas from the point of view
of political elites and civic consciousness the situation hinders
rather than favors. Khosrov Harutiunyan points to the absence of an
atmosphere of confidence and a favorable public opinion.
Meanwhile, his political prudence and experience prompt that the
status quo cannot give us lasting guarantees of what we want to have.
The international community is imposing a resolution and rejecting
it means war, with the international community, not with Azerbaijan,
says the leader of the Christian Democratic Party.
The Karabakh society has the opposite opinion, who gained the
liberated areas at immense costs, which have been turned into "tools
of compromise". The majority of the Karabakh people who fought for the
territories at the front line do not accept the return of territories
independent from what they may get in return. It becomes clear that
Khosrov Harutiunyan, who is speaking about compromise, knows this
and even has his own proposal on resolution.
"The people of Karabakh do not consider these territories as
a means of implementing their vital interests, supporting their
life. They consider them as a guarantee of their security. I think,
if we offer them realistic guarantees of security, secure future,
the perception of the problem will change," says the leader of the
Christian Democratic Party.
However, if Khosrov Harutiunyan were acquainted with the reality in
Karabakh, he would not speak so confidently on their behalf, and say,
"the people of Karabakh do not consider these territories as means
of implementing their vital interests, supporting their life." He
would know that most people in Karabakh live on the wheat they grow
in these territories.
Nevertheless, what guarantees should be offered to Karabakh if the
real guarantee of security, the territories with their favorable
strategic position, is taken away from them? After all, the recent
example of Lebanon showed that the international legal guarantees
are not worth anything and can be neglected at any time. And now it
became clear that Khosrov Harutiunyan did not mean legal or only
legal guarantees. "I understand your question. You demand that I
speak about definite steps, mechanisms, which I would not like to
voice even if I knew. I would like to speak about the principles.
When I say guarantees, I don't mean only legal ones. I don't mean
let's write it on paper because it is very easy to neglect what
is written on paper, and often it is more difficult to neglect
what is not written. Consequently, I mean not only what is written
but practical efforts, such as, for instance, peacekeeping force,
and the structure of this peacekeeping force should be decided
by the conflict sides. For instance, I believe that the forces
of the co-chair countries and first of all the Russian force will
be included," says Khosrov Harutiunyan, adding that we must think
about this system of guarantees, which "if do not appear reliable,
we should, nevertheless, reach their establishment, including legal,
military, geopolitical and international."
The leader of the Christian Democratic Union also proposes thinking
about a common approach to conduct a policy accordingly. "Therefore,
the problem should be put clearly. Which is the goal we can never give
up? You should agree that no pro-Armenian resolutions have been offered
so far, everyone has their perception of what is pro-Armenian, but let
us discuss to reach a public consensus, and then offer the leaderships
conducting the talks to reach settlement through negotiations,"
says Khosrov Harutiunyan.
However, it is not realistic that the "problem will be set clearly",
at least in the near future, because Khosrov Harutiunyan believes
that the problem of Karabakh will not be a burning topic in the
parliamentary election in 2007 because it does not interest the
political forces unlike the year 2003.
Lragir, Armenia
Dec 5 2006
The proposals offered at the table of negotiations over the Karabakh
conflict are acceptable for the Christian Democratic Party, stated
the leader of the CDP Khosrov Harutiunyan on December 5 at the Pastark
Club. "First of all, the resolution, namely territories in return for
security and referendum on status, I think, is highly favorable from
the point of view of negotiations," says Khosrov Harutiunyan. "At
any rate, I believe that the settlement should not be sought in
independence or as part of Azerbaijan, but somewhere in between. This
middle should be reached through a mechanism, and this mechanism is
the referendum," says the leader of the Christian Democratic Party,
mentioning that Karabakh cannot be subject to Azerbaijan.
He says from the point of view of agreement on settlement of the
conflict it is a good opportunity because the interests of the powers
co-chairing the Minsk Group necessitate the settlement. "I think
in 2006 the co-chairs are trying to achieve a critical amount of
arrangements which would give rise to certain developments in 2007,
independent from the political developments in 2007," says Khosrov
Harutiunyan.
According to him, the conflict sides, the negotiating leaders perceive
the necessity of the settlement, whereas from the point of view
of political elites and civic consciousness the situation hinders
rather than favors. Khosrov Harutiunyan points to the absence of an
atmosphere of confidence and a favorable public opinion.
Meanwhile, his political prudence and experience prompt that the
status quo cannot give us lasting guarantees of what we want to have.
The international community is imposing a resolution and rejecting
it means war, with the international community, not with Azerbaijan,
says the leader of the Christian Democratic Party.
The Karabakh society has the opposite opinion, who gained the
liberated areas at immense costs, which have been turned into "tools
of compromise". The majority of the Karabakh people who fought for the
territories at the front line do not accept the return of territories
independent from what they may get in return. It becomes clear that
Khosrov Harutiunyan, who is speaking about compromise, knows this
and even has his own proposal on resolution.
"The people of Karabakh do not consider these territories as
a means of implementing their vital interests, supporting their
life. They consider them as a guarantee of their security. I think,
if we offer them realistic guarantees of security, secure future,
the perception of the problem will change," says the leader of the
Christian Democratic Party.
However, if Khosrov Harutiunyan were acquainted with the reality in
Karabakh, he would not speak so confidently on their behalf, and say,
"the people of Karabakh do not consider these territories as means
of implementing their vital interests, supporting their life." He
would know that most people in Karabakh live on the wheat they grow
in these territories.
Nevertheless, what guarantees should be offered to Karabakh if the
real guarantee of security, the territories with their favorable
strategic position, is taken away from them? After all, the recent
example of Lebanon showed that the international legal guarantees
are not worth anything and can be neglected at any time. And now it
became clear that Khosrov Harutiunyan did not mean legal or only
legal guarantees. "I understand your question. You demand that I
speak about definite steps, mechanisms, which I would not like to
voice even if I knew. I would like to speak about the principles.
When I say guarantees, I don't mean only legal ones. I don't mean
let's write it on paper because it is very easy to neglect what
is written on paper, and often it is more difficult to neglect
what is not written. Consequently, I mean not only what is written
but practical efforts, such as, for instance, peacekeeping force,
and the structure of this peacekeeping force should be decided
by the conflict sides. For instance, I believe that the forces
of the co-chair countries and first of all the Russian force will
be included," says Khosrov Harutiunyan, adding that we must think
about this system of guarantees, which "if do not appear reliable,
we should, nevertheless, reach their establishment, including legal,
military, geopolitical and international."
The leader of the Christian Democratic Union also proposes thinking
about a common approach to conduct a policy accordingly. "Therefore,
the problem should be put clearly. Which is the goal we can never give
up? You should agree that no pro-Armenian resolutions have been offered
so far, everyone has their perception of what is pro-Armenian, but let
us discuss to reach a public consensus, and then offer the leaderships
conducting the talks to reach settlement through negotiations,"
says Khosrov Harutiunyan.
However, it is not realistic that the "problem will be set clearly",
at least in the near future, because Khosrov Harutiunyan believes
that the problem of Karabakh will not be a burning topic in the
parliamentary election in 2007 because it does not interest the
political forces unlike the year 2003.