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THE ADDRESS AND ANSWERS OF THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF ARMENIA EDWARD NALBANDIAN DURING A JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE WITH FOREIGN MINISTER OF LITHUANIA AUDRONIUS AZUBALIS
http://www.mfa.am/en/press-conference/item/2012/04/05/lit_press/
05.04.2012
I am pleased to welcome my colleague from Lithuania - the Minister of
Foreign Affairs Audronius Ažubalis, who is in Armenia on an official
visit.
The relations between our countries are developing very dynamically.
We meet quite often. I was in Vilnius in January, and before that in
December, and before that in November, and before that my colleague
came to Yerevan. In 2011 Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė paid
a state visit to Armenia. Significant agreements were reached between
the leaders of our two countries. Availing of this opportunity, today
we discussed their implementation and the steps to be undertaken for
giving more impetus to the development and deepening of our cooperation
in various fields. We discussed the issues of bilateral agenda,
as well as touched upon a number of regional and international issues.
I expressed my gratitude to Audronius Ažubalis for the support to the
efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group during the Lithuania presidency over
the OSCE last year. I told him about the negotiation process on the
settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue.
We touched upon the issues related to the development of the relations
between Armenia and the European Union, as well. We mutually expressed
satisfaction with the very positively developing relations. We
discussed the steps to be undertaken in the future, including with
the support of Lithuania, so that these relations become more dynamic.
If we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the
diplomatic relations with many countries this year, we celebrated
the 20th anniversary of establishment of the diplomatic relations
with Lithuania last year.
Lithuania was the first country to recognize our independence.
Lithuania was the first country to establish diplomatic relations
with Armenia. Lithuania was the first Baltic state, which opened the
Embassy in Yerevan. And Armenia, of course, the first Embassy in the
Baltic countries opened in Vilnius. Together with my colleague we
participated in the opening of the Armenian Embassy in Vilnius.
Once again I would like to welcome my Lithuanian colleague and to
give the floor to him.
Question: National Lithuanian television, my question is about
Nagorno-Karabakh. Your Azerbaijani colleague said that it would be
possible to start the reaching of an agreement on the settlement when
Armenia withdraws its troops. What do you think about it, or do you
see another solution?
Edward Nalbandian: Well, first of all, I will take this opportunity to
say that today I handed a statement to my colleague, I would say the
historic statement, made by the Parliament of Lithuania back in 1989
which defends the right of Nagorno-Karabakh to self-determination. A
very interesting document.
Regarding the statement of the Azeri side and what Armenia thinks about
it. It is obvious what we think. I would say, we think the same way
as the OSCE Minsk Group does. In this regard, U.S. Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton on behalf of the Co-Chairs in Astana during the OSCE
summit said that all principles and elements proposed as the basis
for the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue have been conceived
and presented to the sides as an integrated whole. And by the way,
the same position was confirmed by France. To select some elements
or principles over the others will create a situation hindering
the settlement. Azerbaijan is proposing to take one element, and
then they would be ready to discuss other issues. This is an absurd
position. On this occasion, the Co-Chairs have repeatedly responded
to Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan, however, pretends not to be hearing.
Armenia's position is in line with the position of the Co-Chairs.
Armenia agreed with the package of the principles and elements
presented by the co-chair countries in order to move forward towards
the settlement on this basis. During the G8 summits in L'Aquila,
Muskoka and Deauville at the level of the Presidents of Russia, the
United States and France statements were made on these principles
and elements.
We welcome these statements and we are committed to move forwards
towards a settlement on this basis. Unfortunately, Azerbaijan is taking
steps and making statements that not only help, but hinder the process
of the settlement. At the same time Azerbaijan is pretending that
it is very interested in changing of the status quo, with a view of
the change of the status quo on the basis of only one element. This
merely suggests that Azerbaijan is against the settlement, against
changing of status quo.
Question, Armen Hovsepian, "Mir" Ttelevision, I have a question for
both Ministers. The President of Azerbaijan periodically announces
that the number one enemies of Azerbaijan are the Armenians around the
world. And at a recent plenary session of the Parliamentary Assembly of
Euronest Ilham Aliyev accused Armenia of not only in all unconceivable
crimes and sins, but also called the Armenians as fascists.
Please tell us, why such repeated racist remarks have not yet been
adequately assessed by the international community? Thank you.
Edward Nalbandian: In my opinion, there is a relevant reaction from
the international community. I will not talk about the reaction
from the Armenian side. We respond on a regular basis, because it
is impossible not to react to such nonsense and provocations. As for
the international community, I would remind a report published by the
Council of Europe's Commission against Racism. There you can see the
clear addressee being Azerbaijan with reference that in this country
the situation with racism is not very good. What Baku is saying and
doing, discredits the UN Security Council, as Azerbaijan currently
is a non-permanent member of the Security Council.
This country creates tension in the region, every day makes bellicose
statements and in an unprecedented manner increases its weaponry,
by threatening regional and in general international stability and
security. Racist expressions in Azerbaijan go beyond all boundaries.
What does it means to declare a number one enemy of the people of
Azerbaijan an entire people. No comments!
All this bring quite a negative reaction of the international
community. Look at the reports, statements regarding the status of
human rights, press freedom in Azerbaijan. I will not talk much about
it; you are well-aware of all this.
http://www.mfa.am/en/press-conference/item/2012/04/05/lit_press/
05.04.2012
I am pleased to welcome my colleague from Lithuania - the Minister of
Foreign Affairs Audronius Ažubalis, who is in Armenia on an official
visit.
The relations between our countries are developing very dynamically.
We meet quite often. I was in Vilnius in January, and before that in
December, and before that in November, and before that my colleague
came to Yerevan. In 2011 Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė paid
a state visit to Armenia. Significant agreements were reached between
the leaders of our two countries. Availing of this opportunity, today
we discussed their implementation and the steps to be undertaken for
giving more impetus to the development and deepening of our cooperation
in various fields. We discussed the issues of bilateral agenda,
as well as touched upon a number of regional and international issues.
I expressed my gratitude to Audronius Ažubalis for the support to the
efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group during the Lithuania presidency over
the OSCE last year. I told him about the negotiation process on the
settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue.
We touched upon the issues related to the development of the relations
between Armenia and the European Union, as well. We mutually expressed
satisfaction with the very positively developing relations. We
discussed the steps to be undertaken in the future, including with
the support of Lithuania, so that these relations become more dynamic.
If we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the
diplomatic relations with many countries this year, we celebrated
the 20th anniversary of establishment of the diplomatic relations
with Lithuania last year.
Lithuania was the first country to recognize our independence.
Lithuania was the first country to establish diplomatic relations
with Armenia. Lithuania was the first Baltic state, which opened the
Embassy in Yerevan. And Armenia, of course, the first Embassy in the
Baltic countries opened in Vilnius. Together with my colleague we
participated in the opening of the Armenian Embassy in Vilnius.
Once again I would like to welcome my Lithuanian colleague and to
give the floor to him.
Question: National Lithuanian television, my question is about
Nagorno-Karabakh. Your Azerbaijani colleague said that it would be
possible to start the reaching of an agreement on the settlement when
Armenia withdraws its troops. What do you think about it, or do you
see another solution?
Edward Nalbandian: Well, first of all, I will take this opportunity to
say that today I handed a statement to my colleague, I would say the
historic statement, made by the Parliament of Lithuania back in 1989
which defends the right of Nagorno-Karabakh to self-determination. A
very interesting document.
Regarding the statement of the Azeri side and what Armenia thinks about
it. It is obvious what we think. I would say, we think the same way
as the OSCE Minsk Group does. In this regard, U.S. Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton on behalf of the Co-Chairs in Astana during the OSCE
summit said that all principles and elements proposed as the basis
for the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue have been conceived
and presented to the sides as an integrated whole. And by the way,
the same position was confirmed by France. To select some elements
or principles over the others will create a situation hindering
the settlement. Azerbaijan is proposing to take one element, and
then they would be ready to discuss other issues. This is an absurd
position. On this occasion, the Co-Chairs have repeatedly responded
to Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan, however, pretends not to be hearing.
Armenia's position is in line with the position of the Co-Chairs.
Armenia agreed with the package of the principles and elements
presented by the co-chair countries in order to move forward towards
the settlement on this basis. During the G8 summits in L'Aquila,
Muskoka and Deauville at the level of the Presidents of Russia, the
United States and France statements were made on these principles
and elements.
We welcome these statements and we are committed to move forwards
towards a settlement on this basis. Unfortunately, Azerbaijan is taking
steps and making statements that not only help, but hinder the process
of the settlement. At the same time Azerbaijan is pretending that
it is very interested in changing of the status quo, with a view of
the change of the status quo on the basis of only one element. This
merely suggests that Azerbaijan is against the settlement, against
changing of status quo.
Question, Armen Hovsepian, "Mir" Ttelevision, I have a question for
both Ministers. The President of Azerbaijan periodically announces
that the number one enemies of Azerbaijan are the Armenians around the
world. And at a recent plenary session of the Parliamentary Assembly of
Euronest Ilham Aliyev accused Armenia of not only in all unconceivable
crimes and sins, but also called the Armenians as fascists.
Please tell us, why such repeated racist remarks have not yet been
adequately assessed by the international community? Thank you.
Edward Nalbandian: In my opinion, there is a relevant reaction from
the international community. I will not talk about the reaction
from the Armenian side. We respond on a regular basis, because it
is impossible not to react to such nonsense and provocations. As for
the international community, I would remind a report published by the
Council of Europe's Commission against Racism. There you can see the
clear addressee being Azerbaijan with reference that in this country
the situation with racism is not very good. What Baku is saying and
doing, discredits the UN Security Council, as Azerbaijan currently
is a non-permanent member of the Security Council.
This country creates tension in the region, every day makes bellicose
statements and in an unprecedented manner increases its weaponry,
by threatening regional and in general international stability and
security. Racist expressions in Azerbaijan go beyond all boundaries.
What does it means to declare a number one enemy of the people of
Azerbaijan an entire people. No comments!
All this bring quite a negative reaction of the international
community. Look at the reports, statements regarding the status of
human rights, press freedom in Azerbaijan. I will not talk much about
it; you are well-aware of all this.