Tweet
Ekho Moskvy radio, Russia
March 4 2013
Karabakh region wants full-fledged involvement in peace talks
[Translated from Russian]
Azerbaijan's ethnic Armenian populated breakaway Nagornyy Karabakh
region demands full-fledged involvement in negotiations over Nagornyy
Karabakh between Azerbaijan and Armenia, the region's foreign
minister, Karen Mirzoyan, said in his 4 March interview to the Russian
Ekho Moskvy radio. The full text of the interview was published on the
website of the radio.
"Unfortunately, we cannot say that progress we would like to see has
been attained in the negotiating process. Unfortunately, as of now,
the process is progressing rather slowly. We think that this is first
and foremost because Nagornyy Karabakh has not been involved in the
negotiating process as a full-fledged party to the conflict. Our
position is that only in case of the engagement of Nagornyy Karabakh
as a full-fledged party at all stages of the conflict resolution
process will make it possible to attain a genuine breakthrough and our
final goal of resolving the conflict between Azerbaijan and Nagornyy
Karabakh," Mirzoyan said, accusing Azerbaijan of barring Karabakh from
direct talks against the backdrop of the "growing" desire of a number
of international actors to see Nagornyy Karabakh at the negotiating
table.
He played down reports on the lack of tangible results achieved by the
OSCE Minsk Group involved in the conflict settlement. "Do not
underestimate the role of the Minsk Group. I think many things have
been achieved. Separate elements are being worked out and they will be
put in place, implemented and realized in the future in case of
reaching a final agreement on the settlement of the conflict. I think
that the main thing achieved within this format is the understanding
of the fact that the will of the people of Nagornyy Karabakh should be
regarded as having paramount importance," Mirzoyan said
He went on to express hope that Nagornyy Karabakh would eventually
become a full-fledged member of the international community. "Work is
under way. We do not conceal this. It is our position that Nagornyy
Karabakh should be recognized and its recognition will make it
possible to create more favourable conditions for the resolution of
the conflict between Azerbaijan and Nagornyy Karabakh," he said.
Commenting on the question as to why Armenia had not yet recognized
the independence of the region, Mirzoyan interpreted Armenia's stance
as its commitment to the principles and ideas of the OSCE Minsk Group.
However, he added that the recognition of Nagornyy Karabakh by Armenia
and other members of the international community was likely to
facilitate the negotiating process.
Asked about the observance of cease-fire on the dividing line between
Nagornyy Karabakh and Azerbaijan given that no "international
peacekeepers" patrolled the area, Mirzoyan said: "The situation that
has taken shape on the contact line between troops of Nagorny Karabakh
republic and Azerbaijan is not acceptable for us. Tensions are growing
high there from the side of the Azerbaijani troops. The so-called
sniper war is under way. The positions of the Armenian and Karabakh
troops are sprayed by bullets from the Azerbaijani side on the daily
basis from almost all kinds of firearms. And we think that this
situation is dangerous".
He accused Azerbaijan of rejecting calls by the Minsk Group co-chairs
and alleged that Azerbaijan had set up a special school to train
snipers to be sent to the contact line.
Speaking about the possible opening of an airport in Karabakh's
capital Stepanakert (Xankandi), he said resolutely: "This airport will
be put into operation", adding that unimpeded movement was a
"fundamental human right". At the same time, Mirzoyan refrained from
naming a specific date of the launch of the airport, noting that
flights would start as soon as all necessary security measures were
put in place.
Asked whether the foreign policy of the self-proclaimed republic
depended on domestic developments in Azerbaijan and Armenia, he said
that Karabakh was interested in political stability in Armenia and
Azerbaijani, as any instability in Azerbaijan was likely to lead to
the escalation of tensions that would also affect the conflict line.
"Azerbaijan has unleashed a wave of threats, a stream of words calling
for violence and consisting of elements of blackmail. Certainly, this
language, this approach is completely unacceptable," he said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
March 4 2013
Karabakh region wants full-fledged involvement in peace talks
[Translated from Russian]
Azerbaijan's ethnic Armenian populated breakaway Nagornyy Karabakh
region demands full-fledged involvement in negotiations over Nagornyy
Karabakh between Azerbaijan and Armenia, the region's foreign
minister, Karen Mirzoyan, said in his 4 March interview to the Russian
Ekho Moskvy radio. The full text of the interview was published on the
website of the radio.
"Unfortunately, we cannot say that progress we would like to see has
been attained in the negotiating process. Unfortunately, as of now,
the process is progressing rather slowly. We think that this is first
and foremost because Nagornyy Karabakh has not been involved in the
negotiating process as a full-fledged party to the conflict. Our
position is that only in case of the engagement of Nagornyy Karabakh
as a full-fledged party at all stages of the conflict resolution
process will make it possible to attain a genuine breakthrough and our
final goal of resolving the conflict between Azerbaijan and Nagornyy
Karabakh," Mirzoyan said, accusing Azerbaijan of barring Karabakh from
direct talks against the backdrop of the "growing" desire of a number
of international actors to see Nagornyy Karabakh at the negotiating
table.
He played down reports on the lack of tangible results achieved by the
OSCE Minsk Group involved in the conflict settlement. "Do not
underestimate the role of the Minsk Group. I think many things have
been achieved. Separate elements are being worked out and they will be
put in place, implemented and realized in the future in case of
reaching a final agreement on the settlement of the conflict. I think
that the main thing achieved within this format is the understanding
of the fact that the will of the people of Nagornyy Karabakh should be
regarded as having paramount importance," Mirzoyan said
He went on to express hope that Nagornyy Karabakh would eventually
become a full-fledged member of the international community. "Work is
under way. We do not conceal this. It is our position that Nagornyy
Karabakh should be recognized and its recognition will make it
possible to create more favourable conditions for the resolution of
the conflict between Azerbaijan and Nagornyy Karabakh," he said.
Commenting on the question as to why Armenia had not yet recognized
the independence of the region, Mirzoyan interpreted Armenia's stance
as its commitment to the principles and ideas of the OSCE Minsk Group.
However, he added that the recognition of Nagornyy Karabakh by Armenia
and other members of the international community was likely to
facilitate the negotiating process.
Asked about the observance of cease-fire on the dividing line between
Nagornyy Karabakh and Azerbaijan given that no "international
peacekeepers" patrolled the area, Mirzoyan said: "The situation that
has taken shape on the contact line between troops of Nagorny Karabakh
republic and Azerbaijan is not acceptable for us. Tensions are growing
high there from the side of the Azerbaijani troops. The so-called
sniper war is under way. The positions of the Armenian and Karabakh
troops are sprayed by bullets from the Azerbaijani side on the daily
basis from almost all kinds of firearms. And we think that this
situation is dangerous".
He accused Azerbaijan of rejecting calls by the Minsk Group co-chairs
and alleged that Azerbaijan had set up a special school to train
snipers to be sent to the contact line.
Speaking about the possible opening of an airport in Karabakh's
capital Stepanakert (Xankandi), he said resolutely: "This airport will
be put into operation", adding that unimpeded movement was a
"fundamental human right". At the same time, Mirzoyan refrained from
naming a specific date of the launch of the airport, noting that
flights would start as soon as all necessary security measures were
put in place.
Asked whether the foreign policy of the self-proclaimed republic
depended on domestic developments in Azerbaijan and Armenia, he said
that Karabakh was interested in political stability in Armenia and
Azerbaijani, as any instability in Azerbaijan was likely to lead to
the escalation of tensions that would also affect the conflict line.
"Azerbaijan has unleashed a wave of threats, a stream of words calling
for violence and consisting of elements of blackmail. Certainly, this
language, this approach is completely unacceptable," he said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress