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DENNIS SUMMUT: "IT IS NECESSARY TO IMPROVE THE MINSK PROCESS"
Today.az
http://www.today.az/news/p olitics/44025.html
April 4 2008
Azerbaijan
Day.Az interview with Dennis Summut, chief executive of the British
NGO Links.
-How, do you think, will the resolution on the situation in the
occupied territories of Azerbaijan, recently adopted by the UN,
influence the negotiations on Nagorno Karabakh?
-I think Azerbaijan should use peaceful means for the resolution of
Nagorno Karabakh conflict. In this sense the UN resolution is one of
such means. I can not criticize Azerbaijan for using its diplomatic
potential to defend its position. That is a matter of tactics.
-Don't you think that the failure of the co-chairing countries to
vote against this resolution damage the image of these countries as
mediators in the Karabakh conflict settlement?
-I was surprised that the co-chairing countries voted that way. I
confess that I did not expect such a decision from them. But as I
understand on the whole, the co-chairs did not spoke against this
resolution, they showed resentment over its overall initiation. I
think such voting should be assessed not as a voting of the co-chairing
countries, but merely three countries -the United States, Russia and
France. Anyway, the result should be taken into account.
-Then, are the appeals, voiced in Baku, regarding the need to change
the co-chairing countries, justified?
-The Minsk process has several components. This is, primarily, the
OSCE itself. The second is the Minsk Group, the third are the Minsk
group co-chairs in the person of the mediating countries and the
fourth is the community, representing these countries.
I do not quite understand what this protest is against and what is
the object of criticism: whether it is the OSCE, or the Minsk Group,
or the co-chairmen or their separate representatives.
I have always said that the Minsk process should be flexible. The
situation around Nagorno Karabakh has changed and it should be
confessed that there is a need for improvement of the Minsk process.
This process is not something sacred or untouchable. This is just an
instrument, owing to which the world society offered its assistance
to Azerbaijan and Armenia in the resolution of Nagorno Karabakh
problem 10 years ago and which should be changed depending on the
current situation.
-How can Serzh Sarkissyan's presidency influence the negotiation
process on Nagorno Karabakh problem?
-I was in Armenia last week and met with different state officials.
They assured me at each meeting that great changes are expected in
Armenia. There will be new ideas and new policy. This implies not
only Nagorno Karabakh but also the overall policy. Anyway, this will
also be connected with the Karabakh problem.
I think we are on the important stage when the mechanisms of talks
should be intensified. And I do hope that Azerbaijan and Armenia will
use it in the coming months.
Today.az
http://www.today.az/news/p olitics/44025.html
April 4 2008
Azerbaijan
Day.Az interview with Dennis Summut, chief executive of the British
NGO Links.
-How, do you think, will the resolution on the situation in the
occupied territories of Azerbaijan, recently adopted by the UN,
influence the negotiations on Nagorno Karabakh?
-I think Azerbaijan should use peaceful means for the resolution of
Nagorno Karabakh conflict. In this sense the UN resolution is one of
such means. I can not criticize Azerbaijan for using its diplomatic
potential to defend its position. That is a matter of tactics.
-Don't you think that the failure of the co-chairing countries to
vote against this resolution damage the image of these countries as
mediators in the Karabakh conflict settlement?
-I was surprised that the co-chairing countries voted that way. I
confess that I did not expect such a decision from them. But as I
understand on the whole, the co-chairs did not spoke against this
resolution, they showed resentment over its overall initiation. I
think such voting should be assessed not as a voting of the co-chairing
countries, but merely three countries -the United States, Russia and
France. Anyway, the result should be taken into account.
-Then, are the appeals, voiced in Baku, regarding the need to change
the co-chairing countries, justified?
-The Minsk process has several components. This is, primarily, the
OSCE itself. The second is the Minsk Group, the third are the Minsk
group co-chairs in the person of the mediating countries and the
fourth is the community, representing these countries.
I do not quite understand what this protest is against and what is
the object of criticism: whether it is the OSCE, or the Minsk Group,
or the co-chairmen or their separate representatives.
I have always said that the Minsk process should be flexible. The
situation around Nagorno Karabakh has changed and it should be
confessed that there is a need for improvement of the Minsk process.
This process is not something sacred or untouchable. This is just an
instrument, owing to which the world society offered its assistance
to Azerbaijan and Armenia in the resolution of Nagorno Karabakh
problem 10 years ago and which should be changed depending on the
current situation.
-How can Serzh Sarkissyan's presidency influence the negotiation
process on Nagorno Karabakh problem?
-I was in Armenia last week and met with different state officials.
They assured me at each meeting that great changes are expected in
Armenia. There will be new ideas and new policy. This implies not
only Nagorno Karabakh but also the overall policy. Anyway, this will
also be connected with the Karabakh problem.
I think we are on the important stage when the mechanisms of talks
should be intensified. And I do hope that Azerbaijan and Armenia will
use it in the coming months.