Tweet
KARABAKH PLAYING CARD WAS PUT TO ACTION
October 25 2013
Difficult days are waiting ahead for those who justify Armenia's
joining the CU in terms of "security" factor At the session dated
October 23, the European Parliament voted for the amendments of the
resolution on strengthening relations with the Eastern neighborhood
countries. It contained a reference to conflicts, which, according
to the European Parliament, must be solved based on the principles
of sovereignty, territorial integrity and the right of nations
to self-determination. The European Parliament had re-established
regional stability and security as an Eastern Partnership objective
calling for an urgent solution of the conflicts in Armenia, Georgia,
Moldova and Azerbaijan. The resolution stated that the EU should be
actively involved in the conflict resolution process, and has mentioned
about "occupation of territories" by one country to another country,
and in particular it has mentioned the UN Security Council's four
resolutions, as well as OSCE fundamental principles, which are provided
for in L'Aquila's joint statement in 2009. L'Aquila's statement was
based on the Madrid principles. To remind that pursuant to the Madrid
principles, "return of occupied territories" adjacent to Karabakh is
required, providing an interim status to Nagorno-Karabakh by ensuring
guarantees for security and self-governance, a corridor connecting
Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, and in the future, determining the
status of Nagorno-Karabakh through the expression of will with a
binding legal force, right of the domestic displaced population and
refugees to return to their former places of residence, international
security guarantees, including a peacekeeping operation.
Of course, this resolution has no legal force for Armenia and
Azerbaijan, it is a consultancy, but, nevertheless, it is the position
of the structure, which does not stem out from the best interests
of the Armenian side regarding Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. European
Parliament resolution, of course, also stressed the progress and
reforms in Armenia, it also highlighted the drawbacks available in
democratic system, but also expressed regret for Armenia's intention
to join the Customs Union. Referring to the resolution adopted by
the European Parliament, the official Yerevan stated at the level
of Deputy Foreign Minister Shavarsh Kocharyan that the wordings
in the resolution regarding Nagorno-Karabakh are contrary to the
official position of the European Union, as well as to the position
of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs who have international mandates of
intermediary mission into the process of conflict settlement. What
position would the European Parliament have, if Armenia would
initialing the EU Association Agreement in Vilnius summit, being in
other level of relations with the EU as opposed to Azerbaijan?... It
will be definitely difficult to insist that no such resolution will
be passed, but one thing was clear the Armenia could be found on
another plane in terms of protection of the interests of NK than the
other side of the conflict, Azerbaijan. Today, we can already predict
that Serzh Sargsyan's statement in Moscow on September 3 regarding
joining the Customs Union will have its consequences in the relations
with the West, despite the fact that Armenia's cooperation with the
EU will continue. From time to time, we will have witnessed in the
adoption of such resolutions. The problem is not that superstates and
international authoritative organizations are always using levers of
pressure against small countries, but the fact that non-independent
policy of Armenia makes Armenia vulnerable both in the relations
with the West and RF. Namely, Armenia is unable to restrain the
levers of pressure, but rather than creates more opportunities for
the application of these levers. Yesterday, the leaders of Russia,
Belarus and Kazakhstan gathered in Minsk to discuss the prospects of
the development of the Customs Union, and Common Economic Area, as well
as the issues on formation of the Eurasian Economic Union. One of the
objectives of the meeting between Putin, Lukashenko and Nazarbayev
was also the discussion of the application of Armenia to join the
Customs Union, said Russian Presidential Aide Yuri Ushakov. Yesterday,
Serzh Sargsyan also left for Belarus to participate in the sessions
of Eurasian Economic Supreme Council and the Council of Heads of CIS
states in Minsk. Meanwhile, on Monday, during the meeting with the
heads of the media of CIS states in Minsk, Belarus President Alexander
Lukashenko made a remarkable statement saying that although in the
near future Armenia can not join the Customs Union, nevertheless this
topic can be raised in the future of CIS and EurAsEC member states
summit. Lukashenko did not rule out the possibility that a document
of Armenia's intent to join the CU will be signed in Minsk. In fact,
it is noteworthy that yesterday RA Deputy Foreign Minister Zohrab
Mnatsakanyan said he is unaware of whether or not the President of
Armenia is going to sign a document in Minsk regarding its joining
the Customs Union. As for Lukashenko, he also recently conveyed the
remarkable desire of President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev. It
turns out that Nazarbayev is not against Armenia's joining the Customs
Union, but he draws attention to the fact of unresolved conflict of
Nagorno-Karabakh. "It means that that there will be questions from
Azerbaijan. As I understood, Ilham Aliyev has already addressed this
question to his Kazakh colleague. We should consider the opinion of
Azerbaijan. Europe is not so eager to accept countries with similar
regional issues into its number," said Lukashenko. It seems that
difficult days are waiting ahead for Armenian political elite who
justify Armenia's chosen path to the Customs Union in terms of the
factor to provide "security"... Based on Lukashenko's revelation,
it can be concluded that Azerbaijan not joining the Customs Union,
in fact, has already been engaged in putting Armenia into a "narrow
situation" on Nagorno Karabakh issue with the help of other CU member
countries.
Emma GABRIELYAN
Read more at: http://en.aravot.am/2013/10/25/162191/
October 25 2013
Difficult days are waiting ahead for those who justify Armenia's
joining the CU in terms of "security" factor At the session dated
October 23, the European Parliament voted for the amendments of the
resolution on strengthening relations with the Eastern neighborhood
countries. It contained a reference to conflicts, which, according
to the European Parliament, must be solved based on the principles
of sovereignty, territorial integrity and the right of nations
to self-determination. The European Parliament had re-established
regional stability and security as an Eastern Partnership objective
calling for an urgent solution of the conflicts in Armenia, Georgia,
Moldova and Azerbaijan. The resolution stated that the EU should be
actively involved in the conflict resolution process, and has mentioned
about "occupation of territories" by one country to another country,
and in particular it has mentioned the UN Security Council's four
resolutions, as well as OSCE fundamental principles, which are provided
for in L'Aquila's joint statement in 2009. L'Aquila's statement was
based on the Madrid principles. To remind that pursuant to the Madrid
principles, "return of occupied territories" adjacent to Karabakh is
required, providing an interim status to Nagorno-Karabakh by ensuring
guarantees for security and self-governance, a corridor connecting
Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, and in the future, determining the
status of Nagorno-Karabakh through the expression of will with a
binding legal force, right of the domestic displaced population and
refugees to return to their former places of residence, international
security guarantees, including a peacekeeping operation.
Of course, this resolution has no legal force for Armenia and
Azerbaijan, it is a consultancy, but, nevertheless, it is the position
of the structure, which does not stem out from the best interests
of the Armenian side regarding Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. European
Parliament resolution, of course, also stressed the progress and
reforms in Armenia, it also highlighted the drawbacks available in
democratic system, but also expressed regret for Armenia's intention
to join the Customs Union. Referring to the resolution adopted by
the European Parliament, the official Yerevan stated at the level
of Deputy Foreign Minister Shavarsh Kocharyan that the wordings
in the resolution regarding Nagorno-Karabakh are contrary to the
official position of the European Union, as well as to the position
of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs who have international mandates of
intermediary mission into the process of conflict settlement. What
position would the European Parliament have, if Armenia would
initialing the EU Association Agreement in Vilnius summit, being in
other level of relations with the EU as opposed to Azerbaijan?... It
will be definitely difficult to insist that no such resolution will
be passed, but one thing was clear the Armenia could be found on
another plane in terms of protection of the interests of NK than the
other side of the conflict, Azerbaijan. Today, we can already predict
that Serzh Sargsyan's statement in Moscow on September 3 regarding
joining the Customs Union will have its consequences in the relations
with the West, despite the fact that Armenia's cooperation with the
EU will continue. From time to time, we will have witnessed in the
adoption of such resolutions. The problem is not that superstates and
international authoritative organizations are always using levers of
pressure against small countries, but the fact that non-independent
policy of Armenia makes Armenia vulnerable both in the relations
with the West and RF. Namely, Armenia is unable to restrain the
levers of pressure, but rather than creates more opportunities for
the application of these levers. Yesterday, the leaders of Russia,
Belarus and Kazakhstan gathered in Minsk to discuss the prospects of
the development of the Customs Union, and Common Economic Area, as well
as the issues on formation of the Eurasian Economic Union. One of the
objectives of the meeting between Putin, Lukashenko and Nazarbayev
was also the discussion of the application of Armenia to join the
Customs Union, said Russian Presidential Aide Yuri Ushakov. Yesterday,
Serzh Sargsyan also left for Belarus to participate in the sessions
of Eurasian Economic Supreme Council and the Council of Heads of CIS
states in Minsk. Meanwhile, on Monday, during the meeting with the
heads of the media of CIS states in Minsk, Belarus President Alexander
Lukashenko made a remarkable statement saying that although in the
near future Armenia can not join the Customs Union, nevertheless this
topic can be raised in the future of CIS and EurAsEC member states
summit. Lukashenko did not rule out the possibility that a document
of Armenia's intent to join the CU will be signed in Minsk. In fact,
it is noteworthy that yesterday RA Deputy Foreign Minister Zohrab
Mnatsakanyan said he is unaware of whether or not the President of
Armenia is going to sign a document in Minsk regarding its joining
the Customs Union. As for Lukashenko, he also recently conveyed the
remarkable desire of President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev. It
turns out that Nazarbayev is not against Armenia's joining the Customs
Union, but he draws attention to the fact of unresolved conflict of
Nagorno-Karabakh. "It means that that there will be questions from
Azerbaijan. As I understood, Ilham Aliyev has already addressed this
question to his Kazakh colleague. We should consider the opinion of
Azerbaijan. Europe is not so eager to accept countries with similar
regional issues into its number," said Lukashenko. It seems that
difficult days are waiting ahead for Armenian political elite who
justify Armenia's chosen path to the Customs Union in terms of the
factor to provide "security"... Based on Lukashenko's revelation,
it can be concluded that Azerbaijan not joining the Customs Union,
in fact, has already been engaged in putting Armenia into a "narrow
situation" on Nagorno Karabakh issue with the help of other CU member
countries.
Emma GABRIELYAN
Read more at: http://en.aravot.am/2013/10/25/162191/