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SAFAROV'S RELEASE AND KARABAKH RECOGNITION: HUNGARY'S EXTRADITION OF AZERI AXE-MURDERER CLEARS WAY FOR ARMENIA MOVE?
By Naira Hayrumyan
ArmeniaNow
05.09.12 | 10:44
Following last week's controversial release in Hungary and subsequent
pardoning of Azerbaijan national Ramil Safarov, convicted in the
murder of Armenian Gurgen Margaryan, analysts and observers began to
assume that the development gives Armenia more freedom in recognizing
the independence of Nagorno-Karabakh, something that it was cautious
to do before fearing Azerbaijan's response with war.
Armenian lawmakers are gathering for an emergency session of parliament
today to discuss the Safarov extradition and its implications. The
National Assembly is expected to raise the issue of Karabakh's
recognition as retaliation for Azerbaijan's move, especially that the
Heritage faction again introduced a relevant legislation two days ago.
This bill was proposed for adoption several times during the past
years, but it was left out by the parliamentary majority every
time with the explanation that time was not ripe for that yet. This
is also what Armenia's Foreign Ministry would say, noting that the
recognition of Karabakh by Armenia may become a reason for discontinued
negotiations and may trigger the resumption of hostilities.
Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan visited Paris on September
2 to meet with the OSCE Minsk Group cochairmen. After the meeting,
the co-chairs said they would continue their contacts with the parties.
Nalbandyan himself also said that Armenia will continue its
participation in the negotiations. But it is obvious that Armenia
may propose a change of the subject of the talks.
If until now the main subject of the talks was the status of Karabakh,
then now Armenia may recognize Karabakh's independent status and state
that it is ready only to hold negotiations on the clarification of
borders and guarantees of peace and stability.
Still last year the Armenian president said that "any adventure of
Azerbaijan, any action taken outside the OSCE Minsk Group would speed
up the recognition of NKR on our part." He said that at the Armenian
Embassy in the United States during a reception organized by the
Permanent Mission of Armenia to the UN and Armenian organizations of
the United States.
"We all should clearly understand: the fact that during so many years
Armenia has not recognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic is due to the
fact that Armenia is trying to reach a result through negotiations. At
the same time, we must understand that any adventure by Azerbaijan,
any actions taken outside the OSCE Minsk Group framework will speed
up the recognition of NKR on our part," he said.
Chairman of the Public Council of Armenia Vazgen Manukyan has also
spoken in favor of recognizing NKR and ceasing negotiations on its
status in the wake of the events involving the extradition of the
murderer to Azerbaijan. The same was stated by the leader of ARF
Dashnaktsutyun. In this view, it is not excluded that the September
5 statement by lawmakers will also refer to the intention to formally
recognize Nagorno Karabakh.
Apparently, there are countries that can support Armenia in this and
start the so-called "parade of recognition". At the expert level some
say that Russia could become one such country. At the same time,
Western countries - the U.S. and the EU - also will not remain on
the sidelines either. But the first one may be Hungary. The office of
the second president of Armenia Robert Kocharyan issued a statement
yesterday in which it said that the most fitting response from the
Hungarians to Azerbaijan may be the recognition of NKR.
And the OSCE Minsk Group co-chaired by Russia, the U.S. and France, may
be the best guarantee that Armenia's recognition of NKR's independence
does not cause a regional turmoil. Instruments of mutual containment
within this format may indeed prove crucial to maintaining peace and
stability in the region.
By Naira Hayrumyan
ArmeniaNow
05.09.12 | 10:44
Following last week's controversial release in Hungary and subsequent
pardoning of Azerbaijan national Ramil Safarov, convicted in the
murder of Armenian Gurgen Margaryan, analysts and observers began to
assume that the development gives Armenia more freedom in recognizing
the independence of Nagorno-Karabakh, something that it was cautious
to do before fearing Azerbaijan's response with war.
Armenian lawmakers are gathering for an emergency session of parliament
today to discuss the Safarov extradition and its implications. The
National Assembly is expected to raise the issue of Karabakh's
recognition as retaliation for Azerbaijan's move, especially that the
Heritage faction again introduced a relevant legislation two days ago.
This bill was proposed for adoption several times during the past
years, but it was left out by the parliamentary majority every
time with the explanation that time was not ripe for that yet. This
is also what Armenia's Foreign Ministry would say, noting that the
recognition of Karabakh by Armenia may become a reason for discontinued
negotiations and may trigger the resumption of hostilities.
Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan visited Paris on September
2 to meet with the OSCE Minsk Group cochairmen. After the meeting,
the co-chairs said they would continue their contacts with the parties.
Nalbandyan himself also said that Armenia will continue its
participation in the negotiations. But it is obvious that Armenia
may propose a change of the subject of the talks.
If until now the main subject of the talks was the status of Karabakh,
then now Armenia may recognize Karabakh's independent status and state
that it is ready only to hold negotiations on the clarification of
borders and guarantees of peace and stability.
Still last year the Armenian president said that "any adventure of
Azerbaijan, any action taken outside the OSCE Minsk Group would speed
up the recognition of NKR on our part." He said that at the Armenian
Embassy in the United States during a reception organized by the
Permanent Mission of Armenia to the UN and Armenian organizations of
the United States.
"We all should clearly understand: the fact that during so many years
Armenia has not recognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic is due to the
fact that Armenia is trying to reach a result through negotiations. At
the same time, we must understand that any adventure by Azerbaijan,
any actions taken outside the OSCE Minsk Group framework will speed
up the recognition of NKR on our part," he said.
Chairman of the Public Council of Armenia Vazgen Manukyan has also
spoken in favor of recognizing NKR and ceasing negotiations on its
status in the wake of the events involving the extradition of the
murderer to Azerbaijan. The same was stated by the leader of ARF
Dashnaktsutyun. In this view, it is not excluded that the September
5 statement by lawmakers will also refer to the intention to formally
recognize Nagorno Karabakh.
Apparently, there are countries that can support Armenia in this and
start the so-called "parade of recognition". At the expert level some
say that Russia could become one such country. At the same time,
Western countries - the U.S. and the EU - also will not remain on
the sidelines either. But the first one may be Hungary. The office of
the second president of Armenia Robert Kocharyan issued a statement
yesterday in which it said that the most fitting response from the
Hungarians to Azerbaijan may be the recognition of NKR.
And the OSCE Minsk Group co-chaired by Russia, the U.S. and France, may
be the best guarantee that Armenia's recognition of NKR's independence
does not cause a regional turmoil. Instruments of mutual containment
within this format may indeed prove crucial to maintaining peace and
stability in the region.