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THE SETTLERS THEMSELVES ARE THE CONFLICT'S GOVERNORS
Ruzan Ishkhanian
http://artsakhtert.com/eng/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=429:t he-settlers-themselves-are-the-conflicts-governors&catid=1:all&Itemid=1
Monday, 14 November 2011 06:10
Head of the Political Sciences and Law History Department of the
Armenian State Pedagogical University, doctor of political sciences,
Professor Levon Shirinian participated in the recent scientific
conference taken place at Mesrop Mashtots University. Following is
an interview with him:
- Mr. Shirinian, first, what do similar conferences give?
- They are significant. A conference is a good chance for summarizing
the viewpoints of the researchers taking their job seriously. It is
also a means for establishing corresponding contacts and relations.
And third, it gives a chance for examination - we observe whether the
society accepts this or that viewpoint, at the same time listening
to others' positions. As a result, different viewpoints on the same
issue are unified, leading to their equivalent.
- How can scientific researches and analysis contribute to conflicts
settlement, if the world is ruled by those powerful?
- In fact, empires' desire, or the world policy is one thing,
and another thing is the people's will. And the people's will can
be represented in the best way to the world by its elite. They
in the empires' centers see everything, on which they make their
calculations. Clever and unbending elite represents its people's
interest, which is taken into consideration in any case.
- Your observations on dwarf empires are quite interesting. Will you
please give some details?
- Dwarf empires are created by Russians. They include Azerbaijan and
Georgia. In due time, both of them took advantage of the USSR collapse,
gaining their independence, but at the same time they prohibited the
autonomous formations in their territories to enjoy this right. They
say that Azerbaijan and Georgia were allegedly created by Bolsheviks;
they also say that it was done by Stalin. But, this role couldn't
belong to Stalin. We should clearly notify the Russians of the truth:
the states, which you unfairly created, dividing and robbing Armenia,
have turned away from you today. If issues are resolved in a way
opposite to our aspiration and national interest, so Armenia can
assume the western orientation. In this case, Russia will lose the
'great triangle', or the entire territory from Rostov to Astrakhan.
- How do we relate to the 'great triangle'?
- The three parties to the triangle are Rostov, Astrakhan and the
North Caucasus, an entire territory, where the situation is always
unstable. We here keep the triangle's far and strategic borderline. If
our national interest is again violated, and I always keep this danger
in mind, we can lose much. In this case, we should say to our friends,
"Your interest contradicts ours, so let's stop".
- We come to the conclusion that the Armenian diplomacy should fairly
take into consideration these circumstances.
- Surely, but just the strategic idea should be firm in order
that diplomacy can act. First, this idea should be synthesized
and comprehended. This time, the Armenian people should be guided
exceptionally by its national interests. It shouldn't be so that
the world issues are resolved and we find ourselves deceived, in a
sad situation. It is the time of organized, clever, and strong-will
nations. The current realities require creating such elite, which
is devoted to its people and homeland. Similar elite is respected
and accepted. This is one side of the issue; on the other hand,
we should be involved in a long and uncompromising struggle.
- How can you assess the negotiation process on the Karabakh conflict
settlement?
- You say settlement. Look, all the mediators unanimously set two
principles against each other - a nation's right to self-determination
and territorial integrity. They are antipodes and have no common
resolution. They set the two principles against each other not to
resolve the issue, but, to say so, to settle. Or, to govern it. The
settlers themselves are the conflict's governors. We should know this
well. I'm sure that we'll resolve our issues; otherwise, we'll lose.
I'd also like to emphasize that the population's number doesn't
play the decisive role. We should work over the people's quality, as
quality is more important. Those ideas, which we posses - military,
political, and others - should be developed and increased. This will
be done by the elite. The world is governed by them, and we should
have our competitive elite.
- How do you imagine the future of Artsakh?
- I imagine it strong, as the Artsakh mountains. You see Artsakh isn't
only for the Artsakhians. It is the Armenian people's. I'm not the
one who lives with Artsakh. All the Armenian people are concerned
about the Artsakh issue, and our entire nationwide resource works
in this direction. The more fruitful it is the better. Artsakh is
our front line, so it should be permanently supplied. And the most
important is - no span of land to the opponent.
Ruzan Ishkhanian
http://artsakhtert.com/eng/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=429:t he-settlers-themselves-are-the-conflicts-governors&catid=1:all&Itemid=1
Monday, 14 November 2011 06:10
Head of the Political Sciences and Law History Department of the
Armenian State Pedagogical University, doctor of political sciences,
Professor Levon Shirinian participated in the recent scientific
conference taken place at Mesrop Mashtots University. Following is
an interview with him:
- Mr. Shirinian, first, what do similar conferences give?
- They are significant. A conference is a good chance for summarizing
the viewpoints of the researchers taking their job seriously. It is
also a means for establishing corresponding contacts and relations.
And third, it gives a chance for examination - we observe whether the
society accepts this or that viewpoint, at the same time listening
to others' positions. As a result, different viewpoints on the same
issue are unified, leading to their equivalent.
- How can scientific researches and analysis contribute to conflicts
settlement, if the world is ruled by those powerful?
- In fact, empires' desire, or the world policy is one thing,
and another thing is the people's will. And the people's will can
be represented in the best way to the world by its elite. They
in the empires' centers see everything, on which they make their
calculations. Clever and unbending elite represents its people's
interest, which is taken into consideration in any case.
- Your observations on dwarf empires are quite interesting. Will you
please give some details?
- Dwarf empires are created by Russians. They include Azerbaijan and
Georgia. In due time, both of them took advantage of the USSR collapse,
gaining their independence, but at the same time they prohibited the
autonomous formations in their territories to enjoy this right. They
say that Azerbaijan and Georgia were allegedly created by Bolsheviks;
they also say that it was done by Stalin. But, this role couldn't
belong to Stalin. We should clearly notify the Russians of the truth:
the states, which you unfairly created, dividing and robbing Armenia,
have turned away from you today. If issues are resolved in a way
opposite to our aspiration and national interest, so Armenia can
assume the western orientation. In this case, Russia will lose the
'great triangle', or the entire territory from Rostov to Astrakhan.
- How do we relate to the 'great triangle'?
- The three parties to the triangle are Rostov, Astrakhan and the
North Caucasus, an entire territory, where the situation is always
unstable. We here keep the triangle's far and strategic borderline. If
our national interest is again violated, and I always keep this danger
in mind, we can lose much. In this case, we should say to our friends,
"Your interest contradicts ours, so let's stop".
- We come to the conclusion that the Armenian diplomacy should fairly
take into consideration these circumstances.
- Surely, but just the strategic idea should be firm in order
that diplomacy can act. First, this idea should be synthesized
and comprehended. This time, the Armenian people should be guided
exceptionally by its national interests. It shouldn't be so that
the world issues are resolved and we find ourselves deceived, in a
sad situation. It is the time of organized, clever, and strong-will
nations. The current realities require creating such elite, which
is devoted to its people and homeland. Similar elite is respected
and accepted. This is one side of the issue; on the other hand,
we should be involved in a long and uncompromising struggle.
- How can you assess the negotiation process on the Karabakh conflict
settlement?
- You say settlement. Look, all the mediators unanimously set two
principles against each other - a nation's right to self-determination
and territorial integrity. They are antipodes and have no common
resolution. They set the two principles against each other not to
resolve the issue, but, to say so, to settle. Or, to govern it. The
settlers themselves are the conflict's governors. We should know this
well. I'm sure that we'll resolve our issues; otherwise, we'll lose.
I'd also like to emphasize that the population's number doesn't
play the decisive role. We should work over the people's quality, as
quality is more important. Those ideas, which we posses - military,
political, and others - should be developed and increased. This will
be done by the elite. The world is governed by them, and we should
have our competitive elite.
- How do you imagine the future of Artsakh?
- I imagine it strong, as the Artsakh mountains. You see Artsakh isn't
only for the Artsakhians. It is the Armenian people's. I'm not the
one who lives with Artsakh. All the Armenian people are concerned
about the Artsakh issue, and our entire nationwide resource works
in this direction. The more fruitful it is the better. Artsakh is
our front line, so it should be permanently supplied. And the most
important is - no span of land to the opponent.