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KARABAKH FOREIGN MINISTER: "SOLUTION TO PROBLEM IS A MATTER OF TIME"
Tert.am
25.09.2009
The Foreign Minister of the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh, Georgy
Petrossyan, recently gave an interview to Turkey's NTV TV Channel. Here
is the interview as reported by NTV.
Recently, Turkish-Armenian relations have been improved and some
protocols have been signed, etc. My first question is: how do you
treat that process from the Karabakh side?
To tell you the truth, I am not informed that these protocols have
already been signed. Let's express ourselves more correctly: according
to preliminary agreement, these documents are to be presented to
the [Armenia and Turkey's] parliaments for ratification within 6
weeks. If my information is incorrect, you can contradict. We follow
that process attentively enough, as the country we live in should
seriously follow developments like that. At the same time I want to
say that we don't even try to interfere in any decision-making process
of citizens and leadership of Armenia. Our stance is clear-cut: we
have never interfered and don't interfere in Armenia's domestic life,
although we understand that there are some issues... connected with
the establishment of close relations between Turkey and Armenia that
we are worried about.
Yes, those protocols have not been signed yet, but, anyhow, today
if they speak in Turkey about Armenian-Turkish relations, connected
with the protocols, Karabakh is constantly mentioned, though it is
not involved in these processes.
We wish Turkey and Turkish officials, who constantly state that without
the Karabakh issue settlement any progress is impossible, had the
same attitude. We wish these two issues were separated from each other.
How will the Karabakh problem be solved, in your opinion? Will you
have a meeting with Azerbaijan one day on solving the issue, or is
it possible to solve it on the international platform?
We have repeatedly stated that we are ready to sit around the table for
ne but unfortunately, Azerbaijan refuses, for some reason or other. May
be it has its own argument for that. In my opinion, Azerbaijan has
no grounds to persistently refuse to have direct relations with us.
We have said more than once that the settlement can hardly be
productive without taking into account the people of the Republic of
Nagorno-Karabakh's opinion.
Maybe it is the unique sample of a republic in the world that is not
recognized by anyone. What are the problems connected with it? When you
look at the future what do you see? How will you achieve recognition?
First of all, it is quite distinctly fixed in international law that
the political situation in a republic does not depend on its being
recognized or not-recognized today. Secondly, during all these years,
since 1992, we have proved both to us and to others that we want and
we are able to establish statehood, which is the basis of our general
policy in this condition as well. From this point of view, the issue of
recognizing Nagorno-Karabakh's independence will have a solution sooner
or later. If you have noticed, we treat different political events
taking place in our region with restraint and don't allow ourselves
to take antagonistic steps in the field of information, and I hope
it is evaluated both by the international community and our adversary.
It is clear that a solution to the problem is a matter of time. Time
is an irreversible category.
What will you tell or advise Turkey as the Foreign Minister of
Karabakh?
At the moment I find difficulty in giving any advice. But, anyway,
let's not forget, that Armenians and Turkey have numerous problems
and complicated knots that today influence our everyday life. I wish
the process of approach was not a matter of gambling but also that
serious negotiations and meetings were held between people of two
countries, in order to make our positions clear and precise and to
come to a mutual understanding.
These tangled points on the whole relate not only to Armenians and
the Armenian world. In c eriod of modern history that the people
of Karabakh raised a political question. Since 1988, in fact,
on the threshold of USSR's dissolution, we have witnessed certain
events in the territory of Azerbaijan in connection with the Armenian
population: of course passions have been fanned again, wounds opened,
and if it was not a preparatory step to commit genocide, then what
was that? Today there are different comments concerning those issues:
official, humanitarian, etc. These are the questions that seriously
influence human memories, future policy and possibilities to establish
good neighbourly relations. It's evident that nobody will leave
this territory. Common edges must be found in this territory which
must be based on human rights, as well as on the right of people in
general. This is the most significant thing.
In addition, in the present situation we see that Turkey's
high-ranking officials directly try to connect these two issues
together: Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenian-Turkish relations. It does not
contribute to the settlement of the problem, as Turkey has obviously
become hostage to the promises he has made to Azerbaijan in due course,
and this very directly and clearly shows that Azerbaijan exerts
pressure. Willy-nilly Turkey becomes a concerned party once again,
insisting that without this, this and that, it is impossible to achieve
any positive results. This is also perceived as a means of pressure;
however any display of pressure can hardly ensure positive results.
Thank you very much. Have you anything to add?
At the moment I have nothing to add. I think these days will set
the beginning of the future, when Karabakh officials will have an
opportunity to connect not only with journalists, but also with the
politicians of different countries. Restrained and calm political
dialogues and discussions will be very productive.
I'll merely add that time has a concept of irreversibility, and
Turkey also has such an experience, but everybody must have the
courage to take a sensible view of his past, his history, in order
to build his future.
Tert.am
25.09.2009
The Foreign Minister of the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh, Georgy
Petrossyan, recently gave an interview to Turkey's NTV TV Channel. Here
is the interview as reported by NTV.
Recently, Turkish-Armenian relations have been improved and some
protocols have been signed, etc. My first question is: how do you
treat that process from the Karabakh side?
To tell you the truth, I am not informed that these protocols have
already been signed. Let's express ourselves more correctly: according
to preliminary agreement, these documents are to be presented to
the [Armenia and Turkey's] parliaments for ratification within 6
weeks. If my information is incorrect, you can contradict. We follow
that process attentively enough, as the country we live in should
seriously follow developments like that. At the same time I want to
say that we don't even try to interfere in any decision-making process
of citizens and leadership of Armenia. Our stance is clear-cut: we
have never interfered and don't interfere in Armenia's domestic life,
although we understand that there are some issues... connected with
the establishment of close relations between Turkey and Armenia that
we are worried about.
Yes, those protocols have not been signed yet, but, anyhow, today
if they speak in Turkey about Armenian-Turkish relations, connected
with the protocols, Karabakh is constantly mentioned, though it is
not involved in these processes.
We wish Turkey and Turkish officials, who constantly state that without
the Karabakh issue settlement any progress is impossible, had the
same attitude. We wish these two issues were separated from each other.
How will the Karabakh problem be solved, in your opinion? Will you
have a meeting with Azerbaijan one day on solving the issue, or is
it possible to solve it on the international platform?
We have repeatedly stated that we are ready to sit around the table for
ne but unfortunately, Azerbaijan refuses, for some reason or other. May
be it has its own argument for that. In my opinion, Azerbaijan has
no grounds to persistently refuse to have direct relations with us.
We have said more than once that the settlement can hardly be
productive without taking into account the people of the Republic of
Nagorno-Karabakh's opinion.
Maybe it is the unique sample of a republic in the world that is not
recognized by anyone. What are the problems connected with it? When you
look at the future what do you see? How will you achieve recognition?
First of all, it is quite distinctly fixed in international law that
the political situation in a republic does not depend on its being
recognized or not-recognized today. Secondly, during all these years,
since 1992, we have proved both to us and to others that we want and
we are able to establish statehood, which is the basis of our general
policy in this condition as well. From this point of view, the issue of
recognizing Nagorno-Karabakh's independence will have a solution sooner
or later. If you have noticed, we treat different political events
taking place in our region with restraint and don't allow ourselves
to take antagonistic steps in the field of information, and I hope
it is evaluated both by the international community and our adversary.
It is clear that a solution to the problem is a matter of time. Time
is an irreversible category.
What will you tell or advise Turkey as the Foreign Minister of
Karabakh?
At the moment I find difficulty in giving any advice. But, anyway,
let's not forget, that Armenians and Turkey have numerous problems
and complicated knots that today influence our everyday life. I wish
the process of approach was not a matter of gambling but also that
serious negotiations and meetings were held between people of two
countries, in order to make our positions clear and precise and to
come to a mutual understanding.
These tangled points on the whole relate not only to Armenians and
the Armenian world. In c eriod of modern history that the people
of Karabakh raised a political question. Since 1988, in fact,
on the threshold of USSR's dissolution, we have witnessed certain
events in the territory of Azerbaijan in connection with the Armenian
population: of course passions have been fanned again, wounds opened,
and if it was not a preparatory step to commit genocide, then what
was that? Today there are different comments concerning those issues:
official, humanitarian, etc. These are the questions that seriously
influence human memories, future policy and possibilities to establish
good neighbourly relations. It's evident that nobody will leave
this territory. Common edges must be found in this territory which
must be based on human rights, as well as on the right of people in
general. This is the most significant thing.
In addition, in the present situation we see that Turkey's
high-ranking officials directly try to connect these two issues
together: Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenian-Turkish relations. It does not
contribute to the settlement of the problem, as Turkey has obviously
become hostage to the promises he has made to Azerbaijan in due course,
and this very directly and clearly shows that Azerbaijan exerts
pressure. Willy-nilly Turkey becomes a concerned party once again,
insisting that without this, this and that, it is impossible to achieve
any positive results. This is also perceived as a means of pressure;
however any display of pressure can hardly ensure positive results.
Thank you very much. Have you anything to add?
At the moment I have nothing to add. I think these days will set
the beginning of the future, when Karabakh officials will have an
opportunity to connect not only with journalists, but also with the
politicians of different countries. Restrained and calm political
dialogues and discussions will be very productive.
I'll merely add that time has a concept of irreversibility, and
Turkey also has such an experience, but everybody must have the
courage to take a sensible view of his past, his history, in order
to build his future.