NKR MFA SAYS NEGOTIATIONS TO NEWLY LAUNCH
ARMENPRESS
NOVEMBER 7, 2011
YEREVAN
Acting foreign minister of the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh Vasili
Atajanyan gave an interview to Armenpress news agency.
- How do you assess the current phase of the NK conflict settlement?
- It is known that during Kazan meeting, like it was expected,
the Azerbaijani party, without exaggeration, forwarded tens of
pre-conditions and torpedoed the negotiation process once again showing
its non-constructive position. So it is senseless to speak about the
current phase of talks as it must start just now. It is spoken about
the visit of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs to the region during the
coming month. We consider that they will present an additional package
of events directed toward reinforcement of peace in the region. And
how they will promote progress in the talks is difficult to say.
- Armenia very often reminds that the direct participation of Nagorno
Karabakh is a necessity. What do you think what must take place in
the peace process? Will Artsakh return to the table of negotiations?
- To say that today we are not participating in the peace process,
will not be right, as the Minsk Group co-chairs, visiting the region
also visit Artsakh, meet with the president of the NKR and other high
ranking officials, present their approaches of the conflict settlement,
get acquainted with our position and viewpoints. In this case it is
being spoken about Artsakh-Azerbaijan dialogue, absence of indirect
contacts the existence of which in future as well as continuation,
may become bilateral negotiations. In this respect it is necessary
to voice the idea of the NKR President Bako Sahakyan that without
direct participation of the Artsakh party it is impossible to ensure
progress in talks. Everyone got convinced in it, except Azerbaijan
which continues hoping that with the pressure of international
establishment the Armenian side will agree to unilateral concessions.
- It is also known that Azerbaijan is trying to transfer the
settlement of the conflict to other instances, for instance to the
PACE sub-committee on Nagorno Karabakh affair. What impact can this
working style have?
- I have almost formulated this answer in the previous question but
as far as it has been spoken about the revived PACE sub-committee on
the Karabakh issue I would like to remind that the former founders
of the establishment pursued very kind goals - provide a platform to
Azerbaijan and Nagorno Karabakh. There was a time when it justified
itself. I personally participated in the hearings. And what is the
goal of those who want to revive it now is not known.
- Recently the Foreign Minister of Uruguay stated that his country has
viewed the issue of recognition of independence of Nagorno Karabakh.
What new opportunities are opening for the international recognition
of the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh?
- The issue of the recognition of independence is one of the priorities
of our foreign policy. We have adopted the OSCE Minsk Group format
of negotiations and today we remain committed to the rules forwarded
by the co-chairs. As to the international recognition of the NKR all
the opportunities will be used for it.
- A decision was made after summits in Astrakhan and Sochi to seriously
investigate any incident on the Karabakhi-Azerbaijani line of contact.
- In this respect we have expressed readiness to assist any monitoring
mission and international task group. The bright examples of it were
the conduction of the monitoring of NKR territories in 2005 and 2010
by the OSCE Minsk group. By the way, Azerbaijan has always made these
programs fail and it is normal as that country continues being the
source of tension and initiator of incidents.
In any case until no direct contacts exist between the NKR and
Azerbaijan, any decision, irrespective of its international level,
is condemned to oblivion because of Azerbaijan.
ARMENPRESS
NOVEMBER 7, 2011
YEREVAN
Acting foreign minister of the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh Vasili
Atajanyan gave an interview to Armenpress news agency.
- How do you assess the current phase of the NK conflict settlement?
- It is known that during Kazan meeting, like it was expected,
the Azerbaijani party, without exaggeration, forwarded tens of
pre-conditions and torpedoed the negotiation process once again showing
its non-constructive position. So it is senseless to speak about the
current phase of talks as it must start just now. It is spoken about
the visit of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs to the region during the
coming month. We consider that they will present an additional package
of events directed toward reinforcement of peace in the region. And
how they will promote progress in the talks is difficult to say.
- Armenia very often reminds that the direct participation of Nagorno
Karabakh is a necessity. What do you think what must take place in
the peace process? Will Artsakh return to the table of negotiations?
- To say that today we are not participating in the peace process,
will not be right, as the Minsk Group co-chairs, visiting the region
also visit Artsakh, meet with the president of the NKR and other high
ranking officials, present their approaches of the conflict settlement,
get acquainted with our position and viewpoints. In this case it is
being spoken about Artsakh-Azerbaijan dialogue, absence of indirect
contacts the existence of which in future as well as continuation,
may become bilateral negotiations. In this respect it is necessary
to voice the idea of the NKR President Bako Sahakyan that without
direct participation of the Artsakh party it is impossible to ensure
progress in talks. Everyone got convinced in it, except Azerbaijan
which continues hoping that with the pressure of international
establishment the Armenian side will agree to unilateral concessions.
- It is also known that Azerbaijan is trying to transfer the
settlement of the conflict to other instances, for instance to the
PACE sub-committee on Nagorno Karabakh affair. What impact can this
working style have?
- I have almost formulated this answer in the previous question but
as far as it has been spoken about the revived PACE sub-committee on
the Karabakh issue I would like to remind that the former founders
of the establishment pursued very kind goals - provide a platform to
Azerbaijan and Nagorno Karabakh. There was a time when it justified
itself. I personally participated in the hearings. And what is the
goal of those who want to revive it now is not known.
- Recently the Foreign Minister of Uruguay stated that his country has
viewed the issue of recognition of independence of Nagorno Karabakh.
What new opportunities are opening for the international recognition
of the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh?
- The issue of the recognition of independence is one of the priorities
of our foreign policy. We have adopted the OSCE Minsk Group format
of negotiations and today we remain committed to the rules forwarded
by the co-chairs. As to the international recognition of the NKR all
the opportunities will be used for it.
- A decision was made after summits in Astrakhan and Sochi to seriously
investigate any incident on the Karabakhi-Azerbaijani line of contact.
- In this respect we have expressed readiness to assist any monitoring
mission and international task group. The bright examples of it were
the conduction of the monitoring of NKR territories in 2005 and 2010
by the OSCE Minsk group. By the way, Azerbaijan has always made these
programs fail and it is normal as that country continues being the
source of tension and initiator of incidents.
In any case until no direct contacts exist between the NKR and
Azerbaijan, any decision, irrespective of its international level,
is condemned to oblivion because of Azerbaijan.