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ARMENIA'S EX-FM PROPOSES THREE STEPS IN FOREIGN POLICY
http://www.tert.am/en/news/2012/10/23/oskanian-facebook/
23.10.12
On his Facebook page, Armenia's ex-FM, MP of the Prosperous Armenia
Party (PAP) Vartan Oskanian left a message dealing with Armenia's
foreign policy and proposes three steps as an adequate response to
the new situation in the region.
Mr Oskanian cannot understand Armenian diplomatic circles'
indifference, lack of initiative and inactivity as respects to
Armenia-related developments.
"The Armenian FM's visits are inversely proportional to what is
happening around us," Oskanian writes.
When Azerbaijan, in cooperation with Hungary, was completing
preparations for the transfer of Azeri officer Ramil Safarov,
Armenia's FM Edward Nalbandian was on a visit to New Zealand. During
the recent exciting developments in the region, minister Nalbandian
was in Africa. Now he is visiting Latin America.
The regional developments in question not only concern Armenia, but
also afford ample opportunities to shifts accents in such issues as
Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenian-Turkish relations, both of which are
of importance for Armenia and must be considered from the aspects to
Armenia's advantage.
According to Oskanian the developments are as follow:
1. Ramil Safarov's transfer to Azerbaijan. Critical of Armenia's
relevant agencies, "we" became aware of a new diplomatic situation,
which must be taken advantage of. Nearly two months have passed,
but Armenia has not obtained any positive results.
2. Turkey's involvement in the domestic crisis in Syria. This
finally proved Turkey-proclaimed 'zero problems with neighbors'
policy to be a failure. Turkey is not on good terms with most of
its neighbors now. That was a serious reason for shifting accents in
Turkish-Armenian relations. This all overlapped the 3rd anniversary
of signing of Armenian-Turkish protocols.
3. Tension between Russia and Turkey. The major reasons for that is
disagreements over Syria, and the recent landing of the Moscow-Damascus
flight forced by Turkey, which caused President Vladimir Putin to
put off his visit to Turkey.
4. Higher tension between Azerbaijan and Iran. That tension culminated
in incitement on the part of official Baku, when talks about Atropatene
being part of Azerbaijan were excited.
What could and can be done in the current situation:
1. Armenian diplomacy must shift accents and, both in public statements
and in official meetings, pass from defending the Nagorno-Karabakh
people's right to self-determination to stating the fact of
Nagorno-Karabakh's 20-year-long independence.
2. The first step - with the Ramil Safarov case, Azerbaijan's
militant rhetoric and ceasefire violations, as well as its having
reached a stalemate in the peace talks, considered - Armenia and
Nagorno-Karabakh, as two independent states, must sign an agreement
that would ensure Nagorno-Karabakh's security. The agreement must be
signed by the two presidents. At present, without Nagorno-Karabakh's
independence being officially recognized, it would be a clear message
to Azerbaijan about Armenia's first steps toward recognition of
Nagorno-Karabakh as an independent state.
3. Given the fact that three years have passed since the protocols
were signed, and Turkey has not so far made any step to ratify the
documents, Armenia's authorities - even if they are not yet ready
to withdraw their signature - should at least withdraw them from the
Armenian NA agenda.
By the aforementioned three steps Armenia will be able to adequately
respond to the new situation in the region and impart a new quality
to the processes that are of paramount importance for Armenia.
http://www.tert.am/en/news/2012/10/23/oskanian-facebook/
23.10.12
On his Facebook page, Armenia's ex-FM, MP of the Prosperous Armenia
Party (PAP) Vartan Oskanian left a message dealing with Armenia's
foreign policy and proposes three steps as an adequate response to
the new situation in the region.
Mr Oskanian cannot understand Armenian diplomatic circles'
indifference, lack of initiative and inactivity as respects to
Armenia-related developments.
"The Armenian FM's visits are inversely proportional to what is
happening around us," Oskanian writes.
When Azerbaijan, in cooperation with Hungary, was completing
preparations for the transfer of Azeri officer Ramil Safarov,
Armenia's FM Edward Nalbandian was on a visit to New Zealand. During
the recent exciting developments in the region, minister Nalbandian
was in Africa. Now he is visiting Latin America.
The regional developments in question not only concern Armenia, but
also afford ample opportunities to shifts accents in such issues as
Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenian-Turkish relations, both of which are
of importance for Armenia and must be considered from the aspects to
Armenia's advantage.
According to Oskanian the developments are as follow:
1. Ramil Safarov's transfer to Azerbaijan. Critical of Armenia's
relevant agencies, "we" became aware of a new diplomatic situation,
which must be taken advantage of. Nearly two months have passed,
but Armenia has not obtained any positive results.
2. Turkey's involvement in the domestic crisis in Syria. This
finally proved Turkey-proclaimed 'zero problems with neighbors'
policy to be a failure. Turkey is not on good terms with most of
its neighbors now. That was a serious reason for shifting accents in
Turkish-Armenian relations. This all overlapped the 3rd anniversary
of signing of Armenian-Turkish protocols.
3. Tension between Russia and Turkey. The major reasons for that is
disagreements over Syria, and the recent landing of the Moscow-Damascus
flight forced by Turkey, which caused President Vladimir Putin to
put off his visit to Turkey.
4. Higher tension between Azerbaijan and Iran. That tension culminated
in incitement on the part of official Baku, when talks about Atropatene
being part of Azerbaijan were excited.
What could and can be done in the current situation:
1. Armenian diplomacy must shift accents and, both in public statements
and in official meetings, pass from defending the Nagorno-Karabakh
people's right to self-determination to stating the fact of
Nagorno-Karabakh's 20-year-long independence.
2. The first step - with the Ramil Safarov case, Azerbaijan's
militant rhetoric and ceasefire violations, as well as its having
reached a stalemate in the peace talks, considered - Armenia and
Nagorno-Karabakh, as two independent states, must sign an agreement
that would ensure Nagorno-Karabakh's security. The agreement must be
signed by the two presidents. At present, without Nagorno-Karabakh's
independence being officially recognized, it would be a clear message
to Azerbaijan about Armenia's first steps toward recognition of
Nagorno-Karabakh as an independent state.
3. Given the fact that three years have passed since the protocols
were signed, and Turkey has not so far made any step to ratify the
documents, Armenia's authorities - even if they are not yet ready
to withdraw their signature - should at least withdraw them from the
Armenian NA agenda.
By the aforementioned three steps Armenia will be able to adequately
respond to the new situation in the region and impart a new quality
to the processes that are of paramount importance for Armenia.