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ARMENIAN VICE-SPEAKER SAYS WAR UNLIKELY TO RESTART SOON
Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
March 7 2006
Baku, March 6, AssA-Irada
The Armenian people have to understand that if the negotiations
to resolve the Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict are deadlocked,
this will not be the end for Armenia. If Baku understands this, why
shouldn't Yerevan, Regnum news agency has quoted the vice-speaker of
the Armenian parliament, Vahan Ovanesian, as saying.
Ovanesian described as erroneous the conclusions being drawn by certain
media following President Robert Kocharian's recent interview that
the president is the supporter of war. The speaker said that the
president's tone was actually rather calm and reserved.
"I think the president meant that Azerbaijan has not given up the
idea of war yet. In other words, we are still at war and have to be
prepared to fight," Ovanesian said.
At the same time, the speaker ruled out the possible resumption of
hostilities in the foreseeable future. He said if Azerbaijan was
ready to do that, it would have done it long ago.
"If Azerbaijan is not resorting to the military option, it means
that it is either unable to do so or too aware of the possible
consequences. Baku understands that the country initiating war will
be punished not only by us but also by the international community,"
he said.
As for the prospect for resolving the Garabagh conflict, Ovanesian
said he did not believe it was possible to reach a settlement in
2006. To back up his opinion, he pointed to the statements of the
Azerbaijani side.
Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
March 7 2006
Baku, March 6, AssA-Irada
The Armenian people have to understand that if the negotiations
to resolve the Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict are deadlocked,
this will not be the end for Armenia. If Baku understands this, why
shouldn't Yerevan, Regnum news agency has quoted the vice-speaker of
the Armenian parliament, Vahan Ovanesian, as saying.
Ovanesian described as erroneous the conclusions being drawn by certain
media following President Robert Kocharian's recent interview that
the president is the supporter of war. The speaker said that the
president's tone was actually rather calm and reserved.
"I think the president meant that Azerbaijan has not given up the
idea of war yet. In other words, we are still at war and have to be
prepared to fight," Ovanesian said.
At the same time, the speaker ruled out the possible resumption of
hostilities in the foreseeable future. He said if Azerbaijan was
ready to do that, it would have done it long ago.
"If Azerbaijan is not resorting to the military option, it means
that it is either unable to do so or too aware of the possible
consequences. Baku understands that the country initiating war will
be punished not only by us but also by the international community,"
he said.
As for the prospect for resolving the Garabagh conflict, Ovanesian
said he did not believe it was possible to reach a settlement in
2006. To back up his opinion, he pointed to the statements of the
Azerbaijani side.