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ANALYST GIRAGOSIAN: AMAZED THAT FMS OF ARMENIA & AZERBAIJAN MET AT ALL
Sona Avagyan
hetq
15:31, October 29, 2012
According to political analyst Richard Giragosian, the reason that
the parliament of New South Wales passed a resolution recognizing
the right of the people of Artsakh to self-determination is because
Artsakh's diplomacy is getting stronger.
"The Australian decision or those by various states in the U.S. are
a by-product of Artsakh's growing strength on the diplomatic level,"
Giragosian told reporters today in Yerevan,
Giragosian said that while he doesn't want to celebrate just yet,
without real facts on the ground, the fact that he met with a member
of the Australian Parliament who is planning to visit Stepanakert is
quite encouraging.
The analyst said that the appointment of Karen Mirzoyan as Artsakh
Foreign Minister was a positive step.
"Karabakh, in terms of foreign affairs and diplomacy is getting
stronger. Here, the mistakes of Azerbaijan play a role," Giragosian
said.
Regarding the meeting in Paris on October 27 between the foreign
ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan, Giragosian noted that the
most interesting thing was that they met at all given the recent
diplomatic flap over the release of Ramil Safarov and his pardon by
President Aliyev.
Giragosian said he had no expectations from the meeting in terms of
progress on the Karabakh issue.
"The importance of the meeting isn't what Nalbandian or Mammadyarov
said. Of greater significance was that the meeting was a test for
the Minsk Group an international public opinion at a time when
Azerbaijan must pay for its bellicose statements and unacceptable
behavior regarding the Safarov issue."
As to what impact the November 6 U.S. presidential election might
have vis-a-vis Artsakh, Giragosian noted that both major candidates,
Obama and Romney, place great importance on Azerbaijan's oil reserves.
He noted that the Republicans have a tendency to be more involved in
the energy business and thus have closer ties with the government in
Baku. As a consequence, Mitt Romney might be more vulnerable to the
allure of Azerbaijani oil.
"On the other hand, Romney has no foreign policy experience and
will not have a firm grasp of the Karabakh conflict. I'm not saying
that Obama has been such a great supporter of Karabakh but if he's
re-elected it would be generally better. Romney would be more dangerous
this he doesn't understand the Karabakh conflict and is indifferent
towards it," Giragosian said.
As a U.S. citizen, Giragosian, a Democrat, said he'd be voting
for Obama.
In terms of U.S. - Armenia relations, the analyst said ties between
the two countries would remain close whoever is elected on November 6.
Sona Avagyan
hetq
15:31, October 29, 2012
According to political analyst Richard Giragosian, the reason that
the parliament of New South Wales passed a resolution recognizing
the right of the people of Artsakh to self-determination is because
Artsakh's diplomacy is getting stronger.
"The Australian decision or those by various states in the U.S. are
a by-product of Artsakh's growing strength on the diplomatic level,"
Giragosian told reporters today in Yerevan,
Giragosian said that while he doesn't want to celebrate just yet,
without real facts on the ground, the fact that he met with a member
of the Australian Parliament who is planning to visit Stepanakert is
quite encouraging.
The analyst said that the appointment of Karen Mirzoyan as Artsakh
Foreign Minister was a positive step.
"Karabakh, in terms of foreign affairs and diplomacy is getting
stronger. Here, the mistakes of Azerbaijan play a role," Giragosian
said.
Regarding the meeting in Paris on October 27 between the foreign
ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan, Giragosian noted that the
most interesting thing was that they met at all given the recent
diplomatic flap over the release of Ramil Safarov and his pardon by
President Aliyev.
Giragosian said he had no expectations from the meeting in terms of
progress on the Karabakh issue.
"The importance of the meeting isn't what Nalbandian or Mammadyarov
said. Of greater significance was that the meeting was a test for
the Minsk Group an international public opinion at a time when
Azerbaijan must pay for its bellicose statements and unacceptable
behavior regarding the Safarov issue."
As to what impact the November 6 U.S. presidential election might
have vis-a-vis Artsakh, Giragosian noted that both major candidates,
Obama and Romney, place great importance on Azerbaijan's oil reserves.
He noted that the Republicans have a tendency to be more involved in
the energy business and thus have closer ties with the government in
Baku. As a consequence, Mitt Romney might be more vulnerable to the
allure of Azerbaijani oil.
"On the other hand, Romney has no foreign policy experience and
will not have a firm grasp of the Karabakh conflict. I'm not saying
that Obama has been such a great supporter of Karabakh but if he's
re-elected it would be generally better. Romney would be more dangerous
this he doesn't understand the Karabakh conflict and is indifferent
towards it," Giragosian said.
As a U.S. citizen, Giragosian, a Democrat, said he'd be voting
for Obama.
In terms of U.S. - Armenia relations, the analyst said ties between
the two countries would remain close whoever is elected on November 6.