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AN INTERVIEW WITH MINISTER VARTAN OSGANIAN
by Shahan Kandaharian
Aztag Daily
March 20 2008
Lebanon
We will do what we must, adopt new policies if necessary, to secure
Karabakh's self-determination and security. says Minister Vartan
Oskanian to Aztag
1- It is true that the UN vote results carry a message to Azerbaijan,
as you mentioned. But don't you think that the event conveys a message
to the Armenian side as well? It's obvious that official Baku wants
to take full advantage of the internal turmoil in Armenia.
VO- It is true the resolution passed although of course we wish it
hadn't. However, I'm satisfied with the number of countries that
did not support it. I assess their decisions positively. This is a
non-binding, or consultative pronouncement by the General Assembly,
I don't think it will have an affect on the process, unless Azerbaijan
is engaged not just in deception but self-deception.
It was unnecessary, ill-timed, mean-spirited, both as a process and
a product.
If they expect to use this for anything other than their domestic
purposes, if they have convinced themselves that the international
community truly supports the one-sided desires they had enumerated in
the text of this resolution, then this will cause serious problems
in the negotations. One thing must be clear for Azerbaijan -that no
amount of resolutions will make Nagorno Karabakh deviate from its
path of self-determination.
Show me one example in history when a conflict has been resolved by the
passage or acceptance of a document by an international organization
or by third countries. There hasn't happened and it's not going to
happen now, certainly not in the case of Nagorno Karabakh. In 1948,
the UN General Assembly resolution to partition Palestine didn't solve
anything. More recently, the Security Council resolution on Kosovo
also didn't manage to bring the sides together in a meaningful way. I
remember in Lisbon when the OSCE Chairman-in-Office made a statement
about Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan's joy knew no limits. It took
years for Azerbaijan to understand that that document had no value.
As for the message to Armenia, it's not the message of the
international community. It's the message of Azerbaijan alone. By
insisting on this non-binding, non-collective statement, Azerbaijan
demonstrated two things - that it wants to retreat from the Minsk
Group process, and therefore from the content of the document on
the table; and that it is only willing to negotiate what it wants,
and not a compromise. That, unfortunately, is the message we have
received from all this.
2- There are signs that such behavior by Azerbaijan may continue
both in the form of ceasefire violations and in increased attempts
to mislead the international public in the diplomatic arena. What do
you foresee?
VO- Fortunately, we will have an opportunity soon to find out what
Azerbaijan's intentions are. There is a possibility that Armenia's
President-Elect will meet with the Azerbaijani President in Bucharest,
in the framework of the NATO-EAPC Summit. We've stated our readiness
to participate, I know the co-chairs will make such a proposal, and I
know the Azeris have also hinted that they are ready to continue the
dialogue at the highest levels. During that first meeting this issue
can be clarified. President-Elect Sargsyan can ask President Aliyev
point blank - if you truly believe in the content of this resolution
and if that will be your guideline, then there's nothing to talk
about and let's not waste our time. But if you're still committed to
the negotiating document on the table today, then let's get serious
and go the short distance that's left. Indeed, the UN resolution
text and the content of the negotiating document are incompatible;
most of the international community recognized this which is why they
did not support it. The international community was also perturbed
by Azerbaijan's recent serious breaches of the ceasefire. These two
things taken together should indeed make the international community
think whether Azerbaijan is serious about its commitments to peace. We
are. We will do what we must, adopt new policies if necessary, to
secure Karabakh's self-determination and security.
3.- Today there's a need to change Armenia's image, as well as
to conduct an accurate and objective assessment domestic political
developments. How do you envision that process, especially when it
comes to coordinating between the Republic of Armenia and the Diaspora?
VO- Indeed, Armenia has taken a beating because of the riots and
the deaths. And when the international community comes inquiring
about the situation, they are not interested in asking or knowing who
is responsible for what. They look at this as an Armenian mess, an
Armenian tragedy, an Armenian problem and judge us all together. It's
not the government that's damaged, it's not the opposition that's
discredited, it's Armenia that is dishonored.
We must accept their criticism, listen to their disappointment, share
their frustration and try to make certain that this is not a permanent
setback, but a temporary aberration from the path to which we're
commited. I hope I'm not wrong. We will be tested by what happens in
the coming weeks and monhs. What is very encouraging is that despite
all that has happened, there's a lot of good will towards Armenia,
a lot of hope pinned on Armenia, and a sincere desire to see us
come through this in a meaningful way, not just superficially moving
forward with business as usual.
This is also a challenge for the Diaspora. The Diaspora is obviously
shocked and disappointed by the way events have evolved. But we all
are. Now it is time for Armenia and the Diaspora together to navigate
through this polarized and paralyzing situation, find ways to build
faith, to encourage sustained, continuous engagement, to insist on
and support institutional change. In other words, to continue the
difficult task of nation-building. What the Diaspora cannot do, as
some have suggested, is to boycott Armenia, to reject Armenia-based
organizations, to blame Armenia for not being the country of their
dreams. I understand the disappointment, I don't understand the
expectations or the reaction. This is when we in Armenia need the
Diaspora, this is when the Diaspora must say what the international
community is saying - we are disappointed in what has happened and
we stand ready to work with you to bring Armenia out of this crisis.
This is not the time to disown the family. This is the time for
cooperated work.
by Shahan Kandaharian
Aztag Daily
March 20 2008
Lebanon
We will do what we must, adopt new policies if necessary, to secure
Karabakh's self-determination and security. says Minister Vartan
Oskanian to Aztag
1- It is true that the UN vote results carry a message to Azerbaijan,
as you mentioned. But don't you think that the event conveys a message
to the Armenian side as well? It's obvious that official Baku wants
to take full advantage of the internal turmoil in Armenia.
VO- It is true the resolution passed although of course we wish it
hadn't. However, I'm satisfied with the number of countries that
did not support it. I assess their decisions positively. This is a
non-binding, or consultative pronouncement by the General Assembly,
I don't think it will have an affect on the process, unless Azerbaijan
is engaged not just in deception but self-deception.
It was unnecessary, ill-timed, mean-spirited, both as a process and
a product.
If they expect to use this for anything other than their domestic
purposes, if they have convinced themselves that the international
community truly supports the one-sided desires they had enumerated in
the text of this resolution, then this will cause serious problems
in the negotations. One thing must be clear for Azerbaijan -that no
amount of resolutions will make Nagorno Karabakh deviate from its
path of self-determination.
Show me one example in history when a conflict has been resolved by the
passage or acceptance of a document by an international organization
or by third countries. There hasn't happened and it's not going to
happen now, certainly not in the case of Nagorno Karabakh. In 1948,
the UN General Assembly resolution to partition Palestine didn't solve
anything. More recently, the Security Council resolution on Kosovo
also didn't manage to bring the sides together in a meaningful way. I
remember in Lisbon when the OSCE Chairman-in-Office made a statement
about Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan's joy knew no limits. It took
years for Azerbaijan to understand that that document had no value.
As for the message to Armenia, it's not the message of the
international community. It's the message of Azerbaijan alone. By
insisting on this non-binding, non-collective statement, Azerbaijan
demonstrated two things - that it wants to retreat from the Minsk
Group process, and therefore from the content of the document on
the table; and that it is only willing to negotiate what it wants,
and not a compromise. That, unfortunately, is the message we have
received from all this.
2- There are signs that such behavior by Azerbaijan may continue
both in the form of ceasefire violations and in increased attempts
to mislead the international public in the diplomatic arena. What do
you foresee?
VO- Fortunately, we will have an opportunity soon to find out what
Azerbaijan's intentions are. There is a possibility that Armenia's
President-Elect will meet with the Azerbaijani President in Bucharest,
in the framework of the NATO-EAPC Summit. We've stated our readiness
to participate, I know the co-chairs will make such a proposal, and I
know the Azeris have also hinted that they are ready to continue the
dialogue at the highest levels. During that first meeting this issue
can be clarified. President-Elect Sargsyan can ask President Aliyev
point blank - if you truly believe in the content of this resolution
and if that will be your guideline, then there's nothing to talk
about and let's not waste our time. But if you're still committed to
the negotiating document on the table today, then let's get serious
and go the short distance that's left. Indeed, the UN resolution
text and the content of the negotiating document are incompatible;
most of the international community recognized this which is why they
did not support it. The international community was also perturbed
by Azerbaijan's recent serious breaches of the ceasefire. These two
things taken together should indeed make the international community
think whether Azerbaijan is serious about its commitments to peace. We
are. We will do what we must, adopt new policies if necessary, to
secure Karabakh's self-determination and security.
3.- Today there's a need to change Armenia's image, as well as
to conduct an accurate and objective assessment domestic political
developments. How do you envision that process, especially when it
comes to coordinating between the Republic of Armenia and the Diaspora?
VO- Indeed, Armenia has taken a beating because of the riots and
the deaths. And when the international community comes inquiring
about the situation, they are not interested in asking or knowing who
is responsible for what. They look at this as an Armenian mess, an
Armenian tragedy, an Armenian problem and judge us all together. It's
not the government that's damaged, it's not the opposition that's
discredited, it's Armenia that is dishonored.
We must accept their criticism, listen to their disappointment, share
their frustration and try to make certain that this is not a permanent
setback, but a temporary aberration from the path to which we're
commited. I hope I'm not wrong. We will be tested by what happens in
the coming weeks and monhs. What is very encouraging is that despite
all that has happened, there's a lot of good will towards Armenia,
a lot of hope pinned on Armenia, and a sincere desire to see us
come through this in a meaningful way, not just superficially moving
forward with business as usual.
This is also a challenge for the Diaspora. The Diaspora is obviously
shocked and disappointed by the way events have evolved. But we all
are. Now it is time for Armenia and the Diaspora together to navigate
through this polarized and paralyzing situation, find ways to build
faith, to encourage sustained, continuous engagement, to insist on
and support institutional change. In other words, to continue the
difficult task of nation-building. What the Diaspora cannot do, as
some have suggested, is to boycott Armenia, to reject Armenia-based
organizations, to blame Armenia for not being the country of their
dreams. I understand the disappointment, I don't understand the
expectations or the reaction. This is when we in Armenia need the
Diaspora, this is when the Diaspora must say what the international
community is saying - we are disappointed in what has happened and
we stand ready to work with you to bring Armenia out of this crisis.
This is not the time to disown the family. This is the time for
cooperated work.