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GORAN LENMARKER: "IT IS EASY TO START A WAR, BUT IT IS DIFFICULT TO END ONE"
AZG DAILY
03-09-2011
APA's interview with former president of the OSCE Parliamentary
Assembly and chairman of the Jarl Hjalmarsson Foundation Goran
Lenmarker
- Do you share the view that present status quo might result a new
war in the South Caucasus?
- I don't think there will be a new war in South Caucasus. It is easy
to start a war, but it is difficult to end one. Since most war plans
go wrong it is certainly difficult to predict the outcome. For example
air superiority is crucial in modern warfare and it depends on skills,
morale, strategy and tactics that are all difficult to assess.
Since war means that many, both young men and civilians, will be
killed and many more wounded and severely handicapped and the public
finances ruined, I am quite convinced that the responsible leaders
I have met from both countries will not take such a fateful decision.
- What steps should be taken immediately - by Minsk Group of the OSCE
and the conflict sides- in order to rule out the deadlock?
- The public opinion of both countries has to realize that a peaceful
solution must be a compromise. No side will get hundred percent of
its demands. But there will be substantial gains for both sides with
the solution that the Minsk group envisages. For example: hundreds of
thousands of IDPs and refugees would be able to retake possession of
their land and some even of their houses. The possibility to visit
family graves is also important. These are the wishes I have been
told about during my many visits to refugee camps.
- For instant, Moscow is an actual and active mediator in the
negotiations, while the EU and the USA are staying aside, commenting
only on the ongoing developments. Why do you believe is the EU acting
passively in the issue?
- It is good that Russia is an active mediator and I agree that EU
is too passive. Europe has a unique experience of building its own
peace, prosperity and democracy after a long history of wars and
aggression between nations that now are member states. EU is also
actively working on a peace-building process after the Yugoslav wars.
I think that EU should offer its most powerful support which is
membership perspective to the three countries of South Caucasus.
Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia are sovereign countries and if they
wish to be part of the European integration, and if they fulfill the
qualifications, this option should be open to them. I am convinced
that that would bring a lasting peaceful stability to the region.
AZG DAILY
03-09-2011
APA's interview with former president of the OSCE Parliamentary
Assembly and chairman of the Jarl Hjalmarsson Foundation Goran
Lenmarker
- Do you share the view that present status quo might result a new
war in the South Caucasus?
- I don't think there will be a new war in South Caucasus. It is easy
to start a war, but it is difficult to end one. Since most war plans
go wrong it is certainly difficult to predict the outcome. For example
air superiority is crucial in modern warfare and it depends on skills,
morale, strategy and tactics that are all difficult to assess.
Since war means that many, both young men and civilians, will be
killed and many more wounded and severely handicapped and the public
finances ruined, I am quite convinced that the responsible leaders
I have met from both countries will not take such a fateful decision.
- What steps should be taken immediately - by Minsk Group of the OSCE
and the conflict sides- in order to rule out the deadlock?
- The public opinion of both countries has to realize that a peaceful
solution must be a compromise. No side will get hundred percent of
its demands. But there will be substantial gains for both sides with
the solution that the Minsk group envisages. For example: hundreds of
thousands of IDPs and refugees would be able to retake possession of
their land and some even of their houses. The possibility to visit
family graves is also important. These are the wishes I have been
told about during my many visits to refugee camps.
- For instant, Moscow is an actual and active mediator in the
negotiations, while the EU and the USA are staying aside, commenting
only on the ongoing developments. Why do you believe is the EU acting
passively in the issue?
- It is good that Russia is an active mediator and I agree that EU
is too passive. Europe has a unique experience of building its own
peace, prosperity and democracy after a long history of wars and
aggression between nations that now are member states. EU is also
actively working on a peace-building process after the Yugoslav wars.
I think that EU should offer its most powerful support which is
membership perspective to the three countries of South Caucasus.
Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia are sovereign countries and if they
wish to be part of the European integration, and if they fulfill the
qualifications, this option should be open to them. I am convinced
that that would bring a lasting peaceful stability to the region.