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DENIS HAUGHEY: AZERBAIJAN WILL NOT GIVE A MILITARY SOLUTION TO THE KARABAKH CONFLICT
by Oksana Musaelyan
arminfo
Wednesday, December 7, 13:41
ArmInfo's exclusive interview with Denis Haughey, ex- chairman of
the Social Democratic and Labour Party (UK)
You have an expanded experience in peacekeeping. Once you headed a
delegation on peace talks in Northern Ireland. In the spring of the
current year you were in Armenia. What is your assessment of the
negotiations on Karabakh? At what stage are the parties and what
difficulties have they faced?
In spring 2011 I visited Armenia and saw just one side of the
conflict. I haven't been either in Stepanakert or in Azerbaijan. I
am sure that many people in Armenia realize that it is impossible
to maintain the current situation in Karabakh. A solution should be
found. Many people in Azerbaijan also think that the situation cannot
be satisfactory and should be resolved.
Since the 1990s, the balance of forces between Armenia and Azerbaijan
has changed due to the fact that various economic dynamics has
developed in the countries. I hope this will not embolden Azerbaijan
to resolve the conflict.
Do you mean a military resolution?
Yes, I'd like to state with all confidence that a war is unable to
resolve such a problem as the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The war will
only worsen the situation and create new problems, it will waste
time and destroy the lives of all the following generations. After
all, the party will have to admit that they should think over other
solutions to the conflict.
Considering your experience of a mediator and concerned person, do
you think that the mediators are able to thrust the parties forward
a solution not desirable to them?
The situation in Armenia and Azerbaijan is certainly different
from that situation in Northern Ireland. I know that Armenians
have a big Diaspora, which is an important political factor in the
Nagorno-Karabakh peace process.
The Irish community of the United States played a big role in the
Northern Ireland peace process. President Clinton sent a mediator,
Senator George Mitchell, who greatly contributed to the settlement
of the conflict.
International mediation is important for peace talks as friendly
states can have a favorable influence on the process even though they
may have different vision of its outcome.
Conflicting parties often blame each other, which does not help
preparing them for a consensus...
Well, the approach when one party is believed to be right, while the
other - wrong, is not right. In any conflict there are two parties
and both are sure that they are absolutely right and their claims are
legal. So, if one wants to solve a conflict, he must stop identifying
himself with one party.
Nagorny Karabakh is not involved in the peace process. Is such tactics
justified or effective?
If you strive to find an acceptable solution for all parties, then each
party involved in the conflict should participate in the peace process.
The negotiations will have limited opportunities for the progress
until the people of Karabakh are provided with a platform and until
their voice is heard. Karabakh was part of Azerbaijan for a long time
and could have had close ties with Azerbaijan. But the people living
in Karabakh are Armenians and associate themselves with Armenia.
Northern Ireland experienced a similar situation, when most of the
residents were British, and the rest of them identified themselves
as Irish. They came to an agreement which satisfied both parties. The
Azeri and the authorities of Azerbaijan consider Nagorny-Karabakh to
be part of their territory. I'd suggest that a solution having a point
of contact with this statement is found. One should find a framework
to adjust to the reality. The people in Nagorny-Karabakh identify
themselves as Armenians, therefore this framework should include the
relations with Azerbaijan and Armenia and give certain own autonomy.
These are thoughts aloud of a third party. I have no absolute solution
that could be prescribed.
by Oksana Musaelyan
arminfo
Wednesday, December 7, 13:41
ArmInfo's exclusive interview with Denis Haughey, ex- chairman of
the Social Democratic and Labour Party (UK)
You have an expanded experience in peacekeeping. Once you headed a
delegation on peace talks in Northern Ireland. In the spring of the
current year you were in Armenia. What is your assessment of the
negotiations on Karabakh? At what stage are the parties and what
difficulties have they faced?
In spring 2011 I visited Armenia and saw just one side of the
conflict. I haven't been either in Stepanakert or in Azerbaijan. I
am sure that many people in Armenia realize that it is impossible
to maintain the current situation in Karabakh. A solution should be
found. Many people in Azerbaijan also think that the situation cannot
be satisfactory and should be resolved.
Since the 1990s, the balance of forces between Armenia and Azerbaijan
has changed due to the fact that various economic dynamics has
developed in the countries. I hope this will not embolden Azerbaijan
to resolve the conflict.
Do you mean a military resolution?
Yes, I'd like to state with all confidence that a war is unable to
resolve such a problem as the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The war will
only worsen the situation and create new problems, it will waste
time and destroy the lives of all the following generations. After
all, the party will have to admit that they should think over other
solutions to the conflict.
Considering your experience of a mediator and concerned person, do
you think that the mediators are able to thrust the parties forward
a solution not desirable to them?
The situation in Armenia and Azerbaijan is certainly different
from that situation in Northern Ireland. I know that Armenians
have a big Diaspora, which is an important political factor in the
Nagorno-Karabakh peace process.
The Irish community of the United States played a big role in the
Northern Ireland peace process. President Clinton sent a mediator,
Senator George Mitchell, who greatly contributed to the settlement
of the conflict.
International mediation is important for peace talks as friendly
states can have a favorable influence on the process even though they
may have different vision of its outcome.
Conflicting parties often blame each other, which does not help
preparing them for a consensus...
Well, the approach when one party is believed to be right, while the
other - wrong, is not right. In any conflict there are two parties
and both are sure that they are absolutely right and their claims are
legal. So, if one wants to solve a conflict, he must stop identifying
himself with one party.
Nagorny Karabakh is not involved in the peace process. Is such tactics
justified or effective?
If you strive to find an acceptable solution for all parties, then each
party involved in the conflict should participate in the peace process.
The negotiations will have limited opportunities for the progress
until the people of Karabakh are provided with a platform and until
their voice is heard. Karabakh was part of Azerbaijan for a long time
and could have had close ties with Azerbaijan. But the people living
in Karabakh are Armenians and associate themselves with Armenia.
Northern Ireland experienced a similar situation, when most of the
residents were British, and the rest of them identified themselves
as Irish. They came to an agreement which satisfied both parties. The
Azeri and the authorities of Azerbaijan consider Nagorny-Karabakh to
be part of their territory. I'd suggest that a solution having a point
of contact with this statement is found. One should find a framework
to adjust to the reality. The people in Nagorny-Karabakh identify
themselves as Armenians, therefore this framework should include the
relations with Azerbaijan and Armenia and give certain own autonomy.
These are thoughts aloud of a third party. I have no absolute solution
that could be prescribed.