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Masis Mailyan: "Morality and law are stronger categories than oil and
petrodollars"
Interview of Masis Mailyan, Head of the NKR Public Council for Foreign
Policy and Security, with ArmInfo News Agency
by David Stepanyan
arminfo
Tuesday, August 21, 12:49
On August 6, 2012, the House of Representatives of the State of
Massachusetts adopted a resolution submitted by State Representative
Jonathan Hecht urging "the President and Congress of the USA to
support the self-determination and democratic independence of Nagorno-
Karabakh". Do you think this step may become a precedent and what are
the prospects of this process?
As early as on May 17, 2012, the Rhode Island House of Representatives
also adopted a resolution calling on the U.S. President and Congress
to recognize the independence of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. This
resolution became a precedent for adoption of a similar resolution by
the Massachusetts House of Representatives. This process is of great
importance to the Karabakh residents and should be continued. I'd like
to recall that on April 26, 2010, the Public Council for Foreign
Policy and Security of Artsakh applied to the Armenian Diaspora
organizations to initiate the process of international recognition of
the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. We think the recognition of Artsakh,
even by the regional structures and self-government bodies of certain
countries will encourage our compatriots in Artsakh, give them more
firmness and will be serious moral and institutional support for them.
In addition, the process of recognition of the NKR will contribute to
softening of Azerbaijan's positions in the talks.
Several months ago Foreign Minister of Uruguay Luis Almagro said that
his country was considering possible recognition of independence of
the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. Afterwards the Azeri Foreign Minister
made a trip to the countries of Latin America to continue "conquering"
these countries to create a counterweight to the Armenian communities.
What steps should the Armenian republics and communities take to
create a counterweight to "Aliyev's oil" and petrodollars?
I think that morality and law are stronger categories than oil and
petrodollars. Therefore, the diplomacy of the Armenian states and the
Armenian lobbying structures should continue their work in the
countries of Latin America. In early December 2010 the large states of
Latin America responded to the Palestinian leader's request and
declared recognition of Palestine's independence. The actions of the
countries of Latin America could not be considered a precedent, as
Palestine had been recognized as a state by dozens of countries
before. It is noteworthy that the countries of Latin America with
strong Armenian Diaspora seek to expand their role in international
affairs and support one of the parties to the protracted Middle East
conflict. The fact that some states of Latin America are conducting an
independent policy opens new prospects for us.
On August 8 Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin said that
Russia sets a high value on the relations with both Yerevan and Baku,
which are Russia's partners in the CIS, and that Russia does
everything possible to narrow the gap between the two sides' positions
in the Karabakh peace process. How would you assess the prospects of
the peace process given the presidential elections in Armenia and
Azerbaijan in 2013?
As expected, the Karabakh peace process has paled into insignificance.
The formal explanation of that is the two-year electoral period in the
three co-chair countries of the OSCE Minsk Group and in the
conflicting parties - Karabakh, Armenia and Azerbaijan. The real
reason is not the elections, but a number of other factors, for
instance, the reluctance to change the current status quo, which has
tough internal and external parameters, the obsolete approaches, the
distorted negotiation format and other important factors.
The NKR Prime Minister Ara Haroutyunyan has recently expressed the
NKR's willingness to put up the Armenians of Syria, provide them with
living conditions, and give them an opportunity to receive free
education in Artsakh. Afterwards, the Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan
announced that the migration of Syrian Armenians to Karabakh was
illegal. Do you think the settlement of the liberated lands of Artsakh
with our compatriots may stimulate implementation of a global project
on settlement of Karabakh?
As the second Armenian state, Artsakh is also morally responsible for
their compatriots in need. The Nagorno-Karabakh authorities have an
opportunity to put up the Armenians from Syria, and it has been
declared. There are citizens in Artsakh, who are ready to provide the
Armenians from Syria with part of their housing. Such solidarity is
also very important and displays true patriotism. In case the work is
arranged correctly and the wishes of our compatriots are taken into
consideration, it is possible to solve both the problem of ensuring
the safety of the population evacuated from Syria and the problem of
proportional development of all the territories of Karabakh. We have
all the sound reasons for that.
Were the recent presidential elections in Artsakh one more step
towards establishment of democracy in the republic?
Due to the nomination of Vitaly Balasanyan's candidacy for president,
the elections were alternative. The big number of votes obtained by
Balasanyan became a serious basis for the beginning of new democratic
processes in the NKR. A new political structure is being created. As
known, the NKR had lacked opposition since May 2007, and the political
field was unipolar. It is important that the NKR citizens once again
expressed their preferences, and the media reports on the passivity of
our society fell short.
From: A. Papazian
petrodollars"
Interview of Masis Mailyan, Head of the NKR Public Council for Foreign
Policy and Security, with ArmInfo News Agency
by David Stepanyan
arminfo
Tuesday, August 21, 12:49
On August 6, 2012, the House of Representatives of the State of
Massachusetts adopted a resolution submitted by State Representative
Jonathan Hecht urging "the President and Congress of the USA to
support the self-determination and democratic independence of Nagorno-
Karabakh". Do you think this step may become a precedent and what are
the prospects of this process?
As early as on May 17, 2012, the Rhode Island House of Representatives
also adopted a resolution calling on the U.S. President and Congress
to recognize the independence of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. This
resolution became a precedent for adoption of a similar resolution by
the Massachusetts House of Representatives. This process is of great
importance to the Karabakh residents and should be continued. I'd like
to recall that on April 26, 2010, the Public Council for Foreign
Policy and Security of Artsakh applied to the Armenian Diaspora
organizations to initiate the process of international recognition of
the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. We think the recognition of Artsakh,
even by the regional structures and self-government bodies of certain
countries will encourage our compatriots in Artsakh, give them more
firmness and will be serious moral and institutional support for them.
In addition, the process of recognition of the NKR will contribute to
softening of Azerbaijan's positions in the talks.
Several months ago Foreign Minister of Uruguay Luis Almagro said that
his country was considering possible recognition of independence of
the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. Afterwards the Azeri Foreign Minister
made a trip to the countries of Latin America to continue "conquering"
these countries to create a counterweight to the Armenian communities.
What steps should the Armenian republics and communities take to
create a counterweight to "Aliyev's oil" and petrodollars?
I think that morality and law are stronger categories than oil and
petrodollars. Therefore, the diplomacy of the Armenian states and the
Armenian lobbying structures should continue their work in the
countries of Latin America. In early December 2010 the large states of
Latin America responded to the Palestinian leader's request and
declared recognition of Palestine's independence. The actions of the
countries of Latin America could not be considered a precedent, as
Palestine had been recognized as a state by dozens of countries
before. It is noteworthy that the countries of Latin America with
strong Armenian Diaspora seek to expand their role in international
affairs and support one of the parties to the protracted Middle East
conflict. The fact that some states of Latin America are conducting an
independent policy opens new prospects for us.
On August 8 Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin said that
Russia sets a high value on the relations with both Yerevan and Baku,
which are Russia's partners in the CIS, and that Russia does
everything possible to narrow the gap between the two sides' positions
in the Karabakh peace process. How would you assess the prospects of
the peace process given the presidential elections in Armenia and
Azerbaijan in 2013?
As expected, the Karabakh peace process has paled into insignificance.
The formal explanation of that is the two-year electoral period in the
three co-chair countries of the OSCE Minsk Group and in the
conflicting parties - Karabakh, Armenia and Azerbaijan. The real
reason is not the elections, but a number of other factors, for
instance, the reluctance to change the current status quo, which has
tough internal and external parameters, the obsolete approaches, the
distorted negotiation format and other important factors.
The NKR Prime Minister Ara Haroutyunyan has recently expressed the
NKR's willingness to put up the Armenians of Syria, provide them with
living conditions, and give them an opportunity to receive free
education in Artsakh. Afterwards, the Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan
announced that the migration of Syrian Armenians to Karabakh was
illegal. Do you think the settlement of the liberated lands of Artsakh
with our compatriots may stimulate implementation of a global project
on settlement of Karabakh?
As the second Armenian state, Artsakh is also morally responsible for
their compatriots in need. The Nagorno-Karabakh authorities have an
opportunity to put up the Armenians from Syria, and it has been
declared. There are citizens in Artsakh, who are ready to provide the
Armenians from Syria with part of their housing. Such solidarity is
also very important and displays true patriotism. In case the work is
arranged correctly and the wishes of our compatriots are taken into
consideration, it is possible to solve both the problem of ensuring
the safety of the population evacuated from Syria and the problem of
proportional development of all the territories of Karabakh. We have
all the sound reasons for that.
Were the recent presidential elections in Artsakh one more step
towards establishment of democracy in the republic?
Due to the nomination of Vitaly Balasanyan's candidacy for president,
the elections were alternative. The big number of votes obtained by
Balasanyan became a serious basis for the beginning of new democratic
processes in the NKR. A new political structure is being created. As
known, the NKR had lacked opposition since May 2007, and the political
field was unipolar. It is important that the NKR citizens once again
expressed their preferences, and the media reports on the passivity of
our society fell short.
From: A. Papazian