PROCEEDING FROM THE CURRENT POLITICAL REALITIES, THE RECOGNITION OF THE NKR BY ARMENIA SEEMS IMPOSSIBLE YET
Susanna Balayan
http://artsakhtert.com/eng/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=587:p roceeding-from-the-current-political-realities-the-recognition-of-the-nkr-by-armenia-seems-impossible-yet&catid=5:politics&Itemid=17
Friday, 16 March 2012 11:18
Prominent political scientists from Armenia participated in the
international conference "The 20th anniversary of the independence of
the NKR: Realities and Perspectives" held in Stepanakert in the last
decade of February. Among them was Director of the Caucasus Institute
Alexander Iskandaryan who made a report in the second section -
Â"Karabakh as a Factor in the Construction of the Region."
It should be noted that the topic of the second section - "The place
and role of the NKR in the regional and international processes"
- caused the greatest interest among the professionals and wider
audience of the section meetings. To remind, the thesis presented at
the fourth and final meeting of the section by Russian expert on the
South Caucasus and Middle East, Director of the International Institute
of the Latest States Alexei Martynov on the need for recognizing
Karabakh by â~@~Kâ~@~KArmenia caused mixed reactions. Following is
an assessment by the Armenian political scientist on the subject.
- Mr. Iskandaryan, what do you think about the thesis of the Russian
political scientist on the need for the priority recognition of the
NKR independence by Armenia? What will it give to the two Armenian
states? Will this not lead to war?
- I am a political scientist, and my job is to say what is right
and what is not, that is only to assess the situation. Recognition
of Nagorno-Karabakh by Armenia is not on the agenda today. If the
recognition of Nagorno-Karabakh happens now, Azerbaijan will have
to be actually out of the Minsk process. The Minsk process will be
slowed down, and the issue will be removed from the OSCE format. Is
it bad or good - this is not the matter... It has a distinct positive
feature: the OSCE is a format with an element of consensus. Armenia
can block an undesirable decision. Then all the rest, which once
took place in Lisbon, will leave this format (this can be said with
high probability). This will create certain risks and threats to
the situation in the conflict zone. Considering this, the official
position of Armenia has not changed for nearly twenty years. Or, that
is the degree of compromise, which is made by the Armenian party,
or strictly both Armenian parties so that the status of Karabakh
could be the endpoint of the negotiation process and not the initial
one. It is widely known.
- As you have pointed out, the position of the Armenian party has
not changed for twenty years. How long do you think it will remain
unchanged?
- A lot of states in the world, that are not recognized or recognized
in part, live on this sample. This is a political fact. And it is
realized by any qualified political scientist. Another ball game
is impossible. Surely, this does not mean it is forever. But in
today's political reality, the recognition of the NKR by Armenia is
impossible. De facto recognition exists, which is also obvious to
everybody. The Armenian monetary system operates in the territory of
Nagorno-Karabakh. Karabakh is connected with Armenia with the bank
and communication systems. The NKR inhabitants are citizens of Armenia
and have the same passports. Boundaries, in fact, do not exist. Both
states have a single economic, demographic, and legislative field...
This is clear to everybody. Surely, we seek legal recognition.
However, to date, this may be stated only by those who aim at pleasing
the audience. In terms of political science, I think to please the
audience is not the most important goal. Proceeding from the current
political realities, it seems impossible yet, whatever we want (well,
which of us does not seek the recognition?).
Susanna Balayan
http://artsakhtert.com/eng/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=587:p roceeding-from-the-current-political-realities-the-recognition-of-the-nkr-by-armenia-seems-impossible-yet&catid=5:politics&Itemid=17
Friday, 16 March 2012 11:18
Prominent political scientists from Armenia participated in the
international conference "The 20th anniversary of the independence of
the NKR: Realities and Perspectives" held in Stepanakert in the last
decade of February. Among them was Director of the Caucasus Institute
Alexander Iskandaryan who made a report in the second section -
Â"Karabakh as a Factor in the Construction of the Region."
It should be noted that the topic of the second section - "The place
and role of the NKR in the regional and international processes"
- caused the greatest interest among the professionals and wider
audience of the section meetings. To remind, the thesis presented at
the fourth and final meeting of the section by Russian expert on the
South Caucasus and Middle East, Director of the International Institute
of the Latest States Alexei Martynov on the need for recognizing
Karabakh by â~@~Kâ~@~KArmenia caused mixed reactions. Following is
an assessment by the Armenian political scientist on the subject.
- Mr. Iskandaryan, what do you think about the thesis of the Russian
political scientist on the need for the priority recognition of the
NKR independence by Armenia? What will it give to the two Armenian
states? Will this not lead to war?
- I am a political scientist, and my job is to say what is right
and what is not, that is only to assess the situation. Recognition
of Nagorno-Karabakh by Armenia is not on the agenda today. If the
recognition of Nagorno-Karabakh happens now, Azerbaijan will have
to be actually out of the Minsk process. The Minsk process will be
slowed down, and the issue will be removed from the OSCE format. Is
it bad or good - this is not the matter... It has a distinct positive
feature: the OSCE is a format with an element of consensus. Armenia
can block an undesirable decision. Then all the rest, which once
took place in Lisbon, will leave this format (this can be said with
high probability). This will create certain risks and threats to
the situation in the conflict zone. Considering this, the official
position of Armenia has not changed for nearly twenty years. Or, that
is the degree of compromise, which is made by the Armenian party,
or strictly both Armenian parties so that the status of Karabakh
could be the endpoint of the negotiation process and not the initial
one. It is widely known.
- As you have pointed out, the position of the Armenian party has
not changed for twenty years. How long do you think it will remain
unchanged?
- A lot of states in the world, that are not recognized or recognized
in part, live on this sample. This is a political fact. And it is
realized by any qualified political scientist. Another ball game
is impossible. Surely, this does not mean it is forever. But in
today's political reality, the recognition of the NKR by Armenia is
impossible. De facto recognition exists, which is also obvious to
everybody. The Armenian monetary system operates in the territory of
Nagorno-Karabakh. Karabakh is connected with Armenia with the bank
and communication systems. The NKR inhabitants are citizens of Armenia
and have the same passports. Boundaries, in fact, do not exist. Both
states have a single economic, demographic, and legislative field...
This is clear to everybody. Surely, we seek legal recognition.
However, to date, this may be stated only by those who aim at pleasing
the audience. In terms of political science, I think to please the
audience is not the most important goal. Proceeding from the current
political realities, it seems impossible yet, whatever we want (well,
which of us does not seek the recognition?).