Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

We Need To Alleviate Conflicts, Interview With Serzh Sargsyan

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • We Need To Alleviate Conflicts, Interview With Serzh Sargsyan

    "WE NEED TO ALLEVIATE CONFLICTS" INTERVIEW WITH SERZH SARGSYAN

    Der Standard
    Aug 23 2008
    Austria

    [Bernath] "Be friendly to Russia and do not look too much to the West"
    - is that the lesson Russia wanted to teach the Caucasus countries
    with this war?

    [Sargsyan] A look at the history of Armenia shows that the two
    countries have never been forced to be friends. It goes without saying
    that no one can be forced to make friends, let alone to maintain
    friendships. I do not want to speak for other countries, but at least
    Armenia is very open, frank, and stable in its relations with Russia.

    Let me also stress that our strategic partnership with Russia has never
    been an obstacle to expanding our good cooperation to other states
    inside and outside the region and to international organizations. The
    broad range of joint programmes with the EU and NATO that are
    continuously ongoing, the increasingly developing relations with
    European states, the United States, and Iran are proof of this.

    [Bernath] It is not the first time that Armenia is affected by the
    consequences of a crisis between Georgia and Russia. What is your
    advice to your partners in Georgia as to how to deal with Russia?

    [Sargsyan] It would be inappropriate to give advice. The policy we have
    developed over the past few years is based on the principle that small
    powers in our highly sensitive region should really do everything
    they can to alleviate potential conflicts between the superpowers
    rather than aggravate them. It is easy to make short-term profits in
    a region by making use of the conflicts between the large powers. On
    the other hand, it is worth the effort, albeit more difficult, to
    seek open cooperation in the area of common interests. Even when
    considering all the challenges we are faced with and that we have to
    meet today, it does not make sense to draw new dividing lines and to
    form artificial ideological camps.

    [Bernath] An important Russian military base is located in Armenia. Is
    Russian predominance in South Caucasus good for Armenia?

    [Sargsyan] Sovereignty, which is important, is as beneficial to
    Armenia as it is to every other state. Today, sovereignty requires
    participation in efficient international and regional security
    agreements. In this respect, Armenia has decided to join the Collective
    Security Treaty Organization (CSTO, the military organization of
    the Community of Independent States, CIS, note). The basic tool of
    the organization is that a military attack on another member state
    is regarded as an attack on all. I think that today, military bases
    are a symbol of efficient cooperation rather than predominance.

    [Bernath] What conclusions do you draw from the military intervention
    in Georgia for Nagornyy Karabakh, another so-called "frozen conflict?"

    [Sargsyan] The tragic events in South Ossetia confirm that every
    attempt in South Caucasus to look for a military answer in the struggle
    for the right to self-determination has far-reaching military and
    geopolitical consequences. The latest incidents have shown the real
    threat posed by the arms race, unjustified increases of the military
    budget, and aggressive rhetoric in South Caucasus. However, the events
    have also shown that the solution to similar conflicts should be
    based on the principle of the free expression of will of the people
    struggling for self-determination, and that solutions should be the
    result of this will. Other approaches will inevitably lead to "ethnic
    cleansing" and the violation of international humanitarian laws.

    [Bernath] Turkey has never really responded to Armenia's offer to
    start diplomatic relations without putting forward conditions. Now
    you even invited the Turkish president to Yerevan. What makes you
    think that there is an increasing readiness for dialogue among the
    Turkish leaders?

    [Sargsyan] We are ready to start relations with Turkey without any
    preconditions. Armenia has always felt committed to this political
    line. Today, we are facing a political situation where no one is
    winning, but, on the contrary, many are losing. I am convinced that
    the continuing rivalry does not make sense and is unnecessary. A
    few days ago, my Turkish counterpart stated that Turkey did not have
    any enemies in the region. In order to suit the action to the word,
    concrete steps for normalization should be taken.

    From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Working...
X