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RUSSIA, THE USA AND FRANCE HAVE ALREADY RECOGNIZED THE RIGHT OF PEOPLE FOR SELF-DETERMINATION PREVAILING OVER THE PRINCIPLE OFTERRITORIAL INTEGRITY
David Stepanyan
ArmInfo
2010-05-25 12:39:00
Interview of vice-speaker of Armenian National Assembly Samvel Nikoyan
with ArmInfo News Agency
Mr. Nikoyan, does the warming of Russian-Turkish relations in
the context of Ankara's vain attempts to recover the "territorial
integrity" of Azerbaijan put the Armenian authorities on their guard?
Further processes will show, of course, if the Russian-Turkish
relations will impact the Karabakh peace process. Exchanging
the centuries-old strategic relations of Armenia and Russia with
cooperation in energy sector or temporary tactical steps is simply
inadmissible. The point is that Russia, the USA and France - three
intermediaries of the Minsk Group separately, have recognized the
right of people for self-determination prevailing over the principle
of territorial integrity. Russia did it when it recognized Abkhazia
and Ossetia; France and the USA - having recognized independence of
Kosovo. For this reason, one can say that each of these countries
considers its priority the right of peoples for self-determination. I
also think that double standards and lie of some diplomats may
reach such a level when saying one thing in case of Kosovo, Abkhazia
and Ossetia, they could say something opposite in case of Nagorny
Karabakh. So, I do not think that it may have real consequences for
the process.
PACE Chairman Mevlut Cavusoglu has recently visited Armenia. How much
his appointment may affect Armenia-PACE relations?
I do not think that this may somehow affect our relations, however,
we have to understand the most important thing: Cavusoglu is not
a European official for us. This man is a Turk, first of all, who
protects Turkey's interests. Consequently, none of us should have
illusions that he may exceed the circle of his national interests
and protect the Europe-wide values.
Opinions are still voiced in Armenia saying we must recall the
signatures from under the Protocols after suspension of their
ratification. How much is it correct and possible today?
President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan has exactly announced the country's
stance saying that Armenia may recall its signatures from under the
Protocols if Turkey continues linking normalization of relations with
Armenia to the Karabakh conflict resolution. Armenia has not resorted
to that only because it respects its partners, the world community and
their authority. After all, all the super powers have shared and keep
on sharing Armenia's viewpoints, whereas Turkey still prefers words
to specific steps. Turkey's statements often become silly. They in
Ankara have already begun speaking about opening of borders to Armenia
and even the open borders between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Actually,
what Turkey can do today is to establish diplomatic relations with
Armenia and open the borders without preconditions, because it was
Turks that closed the borders but not Armenia. It is not Armenia that
must make concessions. Turkey has neither powers and nor possibilities
in the Karabakh peace process for it is not a mediator or impartial in
the issue. All the recent information tricks by Turkey regarding the
"sooner yielding" of Kelbajar and Fizoulu, are just silly. I think
that all these endeavors are nothing but propaganda. They disseminate
misinformation and began trusting in it, then the Armenian party
refutes it and Turkey falls into deep disappointment and blames
everyone for the biased attitude to Azerbaijan.
By the way, as for Azerbaijan, they in Baku have recently started
discussing some renovated and coordinated Madrid principles. Do they
really exist?
Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan has recently expressed
the official viewpoint of the Armenian authorities saying there are no
renovated Madrid principles. Actually, we mean the Madrid principles
which consist of 6 points which were already published. There is
the joint statement by the OSCE foreign ministers, signed by all the
ministers, according to which the Karabakh conflict should be resolved
taking into account the right of peoples for self-determination,
territorial integrity and non-application of force or threat. All the
rest proposals do not meet reality and Armenia is not going to discuss
them or comment on them, this is not a problem of the Armenian party.
The world has to finally understand a simple reality, that having
no evident privilege the principles of the right of peoples for
self-determination and territorial integrity are regarding the states
recognized by the UN in these borders. As for the principle - the right
of peoples for self-determination, the right of peoples for getting
independence has been recognized. Much is said about contradiction of
these two principles, but I think they are not so much contradictory
and settle absolutely different problems. I think that in Azerbaijan
as well they should understand this simple truth.
They in Georgia and Azerbaijan, are trying to connect discontent of the
Javakhq population with Armenia. What is the basis for these attempts
and what is the actual stance of the Armenian authorities today?
Obviously, by such efforts Azerbaijan is trying to preserve the
union with Georgia on the strong basis of common interests. Hereby,
Baku is trying to create a strong tandem Georgia-Azerbaijan in the
South Caucasus naturally directed against Armenia. I think that the
Georgian authorities are aware that the official position of Yerevan
on Javakhq is the only right position. We think that the problems of
that region in Georgia populated with Armenians are connected only with
human rights protection and fulfillment of Georgia's commitments to
the Council of Europe and other similar issues. Armenian authorities
have not demanded anything else from Georgia. Public organizations in
Armenia and Javakhq constantly criticize such stance of Yerevan. It
is simply senseless to look for other claims of Armenia to Georgia.
From: A. Papazian
David Stepanyan
ArmInfo
2010-05-25 12:39:00
Interview of vice-speaker of Armenian National Assembly Samvel Nikoyan
with ArmInfo News Agency
Mr. Nikoyan, does the warming of Russian-Turkish relations in
the context of Ankara's vain attempts to recover the "territorial
integrity" of Azerbaijan put the Armenian authorities on their guard?
Further processes will show, of course, if the Russian-Turkish
relations will impact the Karabakh peace process. Exchanging
the centuries-old strategic relations of Armenia and Russia with
cooperation in energy sector or temporary tactical steps is simply
inadmissible. The point is that Russia, the USA and France - three
intermediaries of the Minsk Group separately, have recognized the
right of people for self-determination prevailing over the principle
of territorial integrity. Russia did it when it recognized Abkhazia
and Ossetia; France and the USA - having recognized independence of
Kosovo. For this reason, one can say that each of these countries
considers its priority the right of peoples for self-determination. I
also think that double standards and lie of some diplomats may
reach such a level when saying one thing in case of Kosovo, Abkhazia
and Ossetia, they could say something opposite in case of Nagorny
Karabakh. So, I do not think that it may have real consequences for
the process.
PACE Chairman Mevlut Cavusoglu has recently visited Armenia. How much
his appointment may affect Armenia-PACE relations?
I do not think that this may somehow affect our relations, however,
we have to understand the most important thing: Cavusoglu is not
a European official for us. This man is a Turk, first of all, who
protects Turkey's interests. Consequently, none of us should have
illusions that he may exceed the circle of his national interests
and protect the Europe-wide values.
Opinions are still voiced in Armenia saying we must recall the
signatures from under the Protocols after suspension of their
ratification. How much is it correct and possible today?
President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan has exactly announced the country's
stance saying that Armenia may recall its signatures from under the
Protocols if Turkey continues linking normalization of relations with
Armenia to the Karabakh conflict resolution. Armenia has not resorted
to that only because it respects its partners, the world community and
their authority. After all, all the super powers have shared and keep
on sharing Armenia's viewpoints, whereas Turkey still prefers words
to specific steps. Turkey's statements often become silly. They in
Ankara have already begun speaking about opening of borders to Armenia
and even the open borders between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Actually,
what Turkey can do today is to establish diplomatic relations with
Armenia and open the borders without preconditions, because it was
Turks that closed the borders but not Armenia. It is not Armenia that
must make concessions. Turkey has neither powers and nor possibilities
in the Karabakh peace process for it is not a mediator or impartial in
the issue. All the recent information tricks by Turkey regarding the
"sooner yielding" of Kelbajar and Fizoulu, are just silly. I think
that all these endeavors are nothing but propaganda. They disseminate
misinformation and began trusting in it, then the Armenian party
refutes it and Turkey falls into deep disappointment and blames
everyone for the biased attitude to Azerbaijan.
By the way, as for Azerbaijan, they in Baku have recently started
discussing some renovated and coordinated Madrid principles. Do they
really exist?
Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan has recently expressed
the official viewpoint of the Armenian authorities saying there are no
renovated Madrid principles. Actually, we mean the Madrid principles
which consist of 6 points which were already published. There is
the joint statement by the OSCE foreign ministers, signed by all the
ministers, according to which the Karabakh conflict should be resolved
taking into account the right of peoples for self-determination,
territorial integrity and non-application of force or threat. All the
rest proposals do not meet reality and Armenia is not going to discuss
them or comment on them, this is not a problem of the Armenian party.
The world has to finally understand a simple reality, that having
no evident privilege the principles of the right of peoples for
self-determination and territorial integrity are regarding the states
recognized by the UN in these borders. As for the principle - the right
of peoples for self-determination, the right of peoples for getting
independence has been recognized. Much is said about contradiction of
these two principles, but I think they are not so much contradictory
and settle absolutely different problems. I think that in Azerbaijan
as well they should understand this simple truth.
They in Georgia and Azerbaijan, are trying to connect discontent of the
Javakhq population with Armenia. What is the basis for these attempts
and what is the actual stance of the Armenian authorities today?
Obviously, by such efforts Azerbaijan is trying to preserve the
union with Georgia on the strong basis of common interests. Hereby,
Baku is trying to create a strong tandem Georgia-Azerbaijan in the
South Caucasus naturally directed against Armenia. I think that the
Georgian authorities are aware that the official position of Yerevan
on Javakhq is the only right position. We think that the problems of
that region in Georgia populated with Armenians are connected only with
human rights protection and fulfillment of Georgia's commitments to
the Council of Europe and other similar issues. Armenian authorities
have not demanded anything else from Georgia. Public organizations in
Armenia and Javakhq constantly criticize such stance of Yerevan. It
is simply senseless to look for other claims of Armenia to Georgia.
From: A. Papazian