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BARUCH BEN NERIA: WITHOUT CONCRETE SOLUTIONS AND INITIATIVES THE POLITICAL AND MILITARY TENSION OVER NAGORNO KARABAKH WILL CONTINUE
by Oksana Musaelyan
arminfo
Monday, June 4, 21:13
ArmInfo's interview with first Israeli Ambassador to Armenia Baruch
Ben Neria
First, do you think the past parliamentary elections in Armenia were
free and fair?
Considering the elections polls which were supervised by our
organization there were very little disturbances and problems during
the election procedures. It seems like they were free, where were
acting in the cities of Yerevan and some others, where we didn't
reveal frauds and obstacles disturbing the free course of elections.
There were plenty claims of bribes that were presented by certain
political parties as gifts. Do you think these gifts are legal ones
or no?
Fortunately we didn't discover any bribes or gifts given voters and
naturally we couldn't be present in these occasions. Of course if
there we had discovered these frauds, we would have reported them
immediately.
As a result of the elections, the leading party won, what does this
victory mean for the geopolitical disposition of the country and its
relations with the neighbor countries, in particular - Azerbaijan,
Turkey, Russia and if possible, I would also like you to comment on
the geopolitical situation in the region and potential threats here
in the light of Iran problem and the fueling Karabakh problem?
The situation in your Transcaucasian region, and the complicated
reality between the regional powers such as Turkey, Russia and Iran,
and the activity of the United States and the European community due
to the energetic and economical and geopolitical problems make this
region very important for different regions in the world, especially
the ME, central Asia and others. The dissolution of the USSR created
some ethical regional conflict between them Armenia and Azerbaijan on
Nagorno Karabakh, Georgia with Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Adjaria
and the problems of Russia in the North Caucasus, in Chechnya and
other Caucasian republics. The prolonged conflict between Armenia and
Azerbaijan should be resolved only by the international standards of
conflict resolution, meaning that all the sides have to come to an
agreement on the subjects and the condition which are signed.
Do you think there are prerequisites for situation to be worsen and
war could be broken in Karabakh?
Because of the non recognition of Nagorno Karabach by the international
organizations and states as an independent state, the chances for
a new military activity still exist. But it is very important to
regulate the conflict to a situation of conflict management, and
mutual trusting relations between the opponents.
Without concrete solutions and initiatives, that both sides know
they will need to give up on some of their dreams, the political and
military tension will continue on different level of tension. This
situation doesn't demonstrate any advantages to the most relevant
countries of the region.
Israel has sold military armament to Azerbaijan, don't you think
that Israel is playing not only against Armenia but also against
itself since Azerbaijan is a brother of Turkey with whom Israel has
strained relationship?
Israel as all other states in the world has its own strategic and
national interests, which are very important to keep the defense of the
state and also to prevent military and strategic threats on Israel. The
cooperation between Israel and Azerbaijan is by no mean against
Armenia, but because of the real and concrete threats and intimidation
from the side of Islamic fundamentalist Iran which is developing its
nuclear weapons and is ready to use terror all over the world against
the USA, Israel and other countries. It is very important for Israel
to have a good relationship with all the countries of the region,
like Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan. The Israeli Turkish diplomatic
crisis which occurred two years ago, I hope it is a temporary one,
and will bring both sides to reconciliation and appeasement eventually.
How would you generally estimate the level of relationship of Israel
and Armenia and the potential for the Armenian Genocide bill motion
in Knesset on the eve of 100 anniversary?
As the first ambassador to Armenia and Georgia, establishing and
developing relations between the countries, I would wish for better
relations between Israel and Armenia, but it depends not less on
the Armenian side as well. Armenia has its own national interests in
the region and abroad, and has to develop it's economy, international
trade and foreign investments, and as far as I know there are number of
Israeli business men who are interested in such a mutual relationship.
What do you think about the possibility of the Israeli Knesset adopting
an Armenian Genocide bill?
The question of the Armenian genocide bill in the Knesset, it is not
an easy task, but I believe there is a serious majority in the Knesset
to accept such a bill, but it takes time and has to be decided by
the members of the Israeli Parliament.
by Oksana Musaelyan
arminfo
Monday, June 4, 21:13
ArmInfo's interview with first Israeli Ambassador to Armenia Baruch
Ben Neria
First, do you think the past parliamentary elections in Armenia were
free and fair?
Considering the elections polls which were supervised by our
organization there were very little disturbances and problems during
the election procedures. It seems like they were free, where were
acting in the cities of Yerevan and some others, where we didn't
reveal frauds and obstacles disturbing the free course of elections.
There were plenty claims of bribes that were presented by certain
political parties as gifts. Do you think these gifts are legal ones
or no?
Fortunately we didn't discover any bribes or gifts given voters and
naturally we couldn't be present in these occasions. Of course if
there we had discovered these frauds, we would have reported them
immediately.
As a result of the elections, the leading party won, what does this
victory mean for the geopolitical disposition of the country and its
relations with the neighbor countries, in particular - Azerbaijan,
Turkey, Russia and if possible, I would also like you to comment on
the geopolitical situation in the region and potential threats here
in the light of Iran problem and the fueling Karabakh problem?
The situation in your Transcaucasian region, and the complicated
reality between the regional powers such as Turkey, Russia and Iran,
and the activity of the United States and the European community due
to the energetic and economical and geopolitical problems make this
region very important for different regions in the world, especially
the ME, central Asia and others. The dissolution of the USSR created
some ethical regional conflict between them Armenia and Azerbaijan on
Nagorno Karabakh, Georgia with Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Adjaria
and the problems of Russia in the North Caucasus, in Chechnya and
other Caucasian republics. The prolonged conflict between Armenia and
Azerbaijan should be resolved only by the international standards of
conflict resolution, meaning that all the sides have to come to an
agreement on the subjects and the condition which are signed.
Do you think there are prerequisites for situation to be worsen and
war could be broken in Karabakh?
Because of the non recognition of Nagorno Karabach by the international
organizations and states as an independent state, the chances for
a new military activity still exist. But it is very important to
regulate the conflict to a situation of conflict management, and
mutual trusting relations between the opponents.
Without concrete solutions and initiatives, that both sides know
they will need to give up on some of their dreams, the political and
military tension will continue on different level of tension. This
situation doesn't demonstrate any advantages to the most relevant
countries of the region.
Israel has sold military armament to Azerbaijan, don't you think
that Israel is playing not only against Armenia but also against
itself since Azerbaijan is a brother of Turkey with whom Israel has
strained relationship?
Israel as all other states in the world has its own strategic and
national interests, which are very important to keep the defense of the
state and also to prevent military and strategic threats on Israel. The
cooperation between Israel and Azerbaijan is by no mean against
Armenia, but because of the real and concrete threats and intimidation
from the side of Islamic fundamentalist Iran which is developing its
nuclear weapons and is ready to use terror all over the world against
the USA, Israel and other countries. It is very important for Israel
to have a good relationship with all the countries of the region,
like Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan. The Israeli Turkish diplomatic
crisis which occurred two years ago, I hope it is a temporary one,
and will bring both sides to reconciliation and appeasement eventually.
How would you generally estimate the level of relationship of Israel
and Armenia and the potential for the Armenian Genocide bill motion
in Knesset on the eve of 100 anniversary?
As the first ambassador to Armenia and Georgia, establishing and
developing relations between the countries, I would wish for better
relations between Israel and Armenia, but it depends not less on
the Armenian side as well. Armenia has its own national interests in
the region and abroad, and has to develop it's economy, international
trade and foreign investments, and as far as I know there are number of
Israeli business men who are interested in such a mutual relationship.
What do you think about the possibility of the Israeli Knesset adopting
an Armenian Genocide bill?
The question of the Armenian genocide bill in the Knesset, it is not
an easy task, but I believe there is a serious majority in the Knesset
to accept such a bill, but it takes time and has to be decided by
the members of the Israeli Parliament.