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RUSSIA HOSTS KARABAKH PEACE TALKS
Hurriyet
June 24 2011
Turkey
The start of peace talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the
Nagorno-Karabakh region has left some hopeful that a resolution to
the decades-long conflict is near, but a former Armenian official
said on Saturday that the problem would not be solved as long as
"the Karabakh administration is not included in the talks."
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, one of the mediators of the conflict
between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, will
host Armenian President Serge Sarkisian and Azerbaijani President
Ilham Aliyev in the Volga city of Kazan to discuss a settlement to
the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, an Azerbaijani territory occupied
by Armenia since 1994.
Expectations are high going into the meeting, which convenes on June
24. Sarkisian recently issued a statement saying: "We have had a
quite long negotiation process. There is a concrete closeness of the
parties. I guess time has come for the final views of the parties
on the main principles to be expressed. I will go to Kazan with an
expectation of participating in constructive talks."
In an e-mail to the Hurriyet Daily News, former foreign minister to
the Armenian administration at Nagorno-Karabakh Masis Mayilyan said
problems would not be solved unless the Karabakh administration is
included in the talks. "Armenia and Azerbaijan may sign an agreement
under international pressure," Mayilyan said, but added that "if you
look at the statements of both parties, it is seen that reconciliation
is extremely difficult." He also said the international mediators
should deter Azerbaijan from continuously repeating its war threats.
'Independence should be recognized'
Armenian Center for National and International Studies Director Manvel
Sargsyan, the first representative from Nagorno-Karabakh in Yerevan,
said he was not very optimistic about the outcome of the talks. For
an agreement to be reached, he said, Azerbaijan must recognize
the Karabakh people's right to self-determination. "I don't think
Azerbaijan will take such a step," he said.
In order for a real breakthrough to occur in the Nagorno-Karabakh
issue, Sargsyan said, its independence must first be recognized in
the international arena, and after this step, talks including the
Karabakh administration can begin.
Mayilyan expressed similar sentiments, saying: "The international
recognition of Nagorno-Karabakh independence is able to close the
military perspective. The realization of this scenario will provide
the region a long-term stability."
Armenia cannot unilaterally reconcile with Azerbaijan without
Karabakh's participation, Sargsyan said, adding that no deal would
be accepted without the participation of Nagorno-Karabakh.
When asked about the possibility of war, Sargsyan claimed it would
not be a decision made by Azerbaijan, but "the possibility of a new
war can only emerge with the wish of big powers. Azerbaijan alone
cannot take such a step."
Speaking at the Council of Europe on Wednesday, President Sarkisian
said he was "full of optimism and strongly hope[d] it will be possible
to find a common denominator" at the upcoming meeting.
"It would be more logical for the Council of Europe to engage with
Karabakh before discussing the status of Karabakh," Sarkisian said.
"Indigenous Armenian people have lived in Karabakh for centuries,
no one may question the right of the people of Karabakh to live in
their land freely and decide their destiny."
Sarkisian also said Armenia was under the blockade of Turkey and
Azerbaijan, leaving no choice but nuclear energy for Armenia.
Hurriyet
June 24 2011
Turkey
The start of peace talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the
Nagorno-Karabakh region has left some hopeful that a resolution to
the decades-long conflict is near, but a former Armenian official
said on Saturday that the problem would not be solved as long as
"the Karabakh administration is not included in the talks."
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, one of the mediators of the conflict
between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, will
host Armenian President Serge Sarkisian and Azerbaijani President
Ilham Aliyev in the Volga city of Kazan to discuss a settlement to
the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, an Azerbaijani territory occupied
by Armenia since 1994.
Expectations are high going into the meeting, which convenes on June
24. Sarkisian recently issued a statement saying: "We have had a
quite long negotiation process. There is a concrete closeness of the
parties. I guess time has come for the final views of the parties
on the main principles to be expressed. I will go to Kazan with an
expectation of participating in constructive talks."
In an e-mail to the Hurriyet Daily News, former foreign minister to
the Armenian administration at Nagorno-Karabakh Masis Mayilyan said
problems would not be solved unless the Karabakh administration is
included in the talks. "Armenia and Azerbaijan may sign an agreement
under international pressure," Mayilyan said, but added that "if you
look at the statements of both parties, it is seen that reconciliation
is extremely difficult." He also said the international mediators
should deter Azerbaijan from continuously repeating its war threats.
'Independence should be recognized'
Armenian Center for National and International Studies Director Manvel
Sargsyan, the first representative from Nagorno-Karabakh in Yerevan,
said he was not very optimistic about the outcome of the talks. For
an agreement to be reached, he said, Azerbaijan must recognize
the Karabakh people's right to self-determination. "I don't think
Azerbaijan will take such a step," he said.
In order for a real breakthrough to occur in the Nagorno-Karabakh
issue, Sargsyan said, its independence must first be recognized in
the international arena, and after this step, talks including the
Karabakh administration can begin.
Mayilyan expressed similar sentiments, saying: "The international
recognition of Nagorno-Karabakh independence is able to close the
military perspective. The realization of this scenario will provide
the region a long-term stability."
Armenia cannot unilaterally reconcile with Azerbaijan without
Karabakh's participation, Sargsyan said, adding that no deal would
be accepted without the participation of Nagorno-Karabakh.
When asked about the possibility of war, Sargsyan claimed it would
not be a decision made by Azerbaijan, but "the possibility of a new
war can only emerge with the wish of big powers. Azerbaijan alone
cannot take such a step."
Speaking at the Council of Europe on Wednesday, President Sarkisian
said he was "full of optimism and strongly hope[d] it will be possible
to find a common denominator" at the upcoming meeting.
"It would be more logical for the Council of Europe to engage with
Karabakh before discussing the status of Karabakh," Sarkisian said.
"Indigenous Armenian people have lived in Karabakh for centuries,
no one may question the right of the people of Karabakh to live in
their land freely and decide their destiny."
Sarkisian also said Armenia was under the blockade of Turkey and
Azerbaijan, leaving no choice but nuclear energy for Armenia.