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Robert Kocharyan is not optimistic about prospects of final settlement
of Karabakh conflict
by Marianna Lazarian
Friday, August 29, 16:59
The second president of Armenia, Robert Kocharyan, is not optimistic
about the prospects of final settlement of the Karabakh conflict.
When commenting on the recent meeting of the Presidents of Armenia,
Azerbaijan and Russia, Robert Kocharyan says in his interview with
Noyan Tapan that he lacks sufficient information to impartially assess
the efficiency of the meeting. "However, the fact of the meeting after
a long break and after the escalation of tension along the Line of
Contact is positive. I would refrain from optimistic assessments of
the final settlement prospects", he says.
When asked if the Karabakh conflict may complicate Armenia's accession
to the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), Kocharyan replies that any of
the EAEU countries may formally block the process and demand
establishing a customs border between Armenia and the NKR, and this
will unlikely be acceptable to Armenia.
"In the meantime, the NKR has no operating borders with other
countries, and the NKR-Azeri border is the Line of Contact of the
troops. That is to say, there is no threat of penetration of
commodities into the EAEU territory via the NKR which can endanger the
economic interests of the EAEU member states", he says.
As regards the issue of Armenia's isolation and the possibility to get
out of the isolation without the final determination of Karabakh's
status, Kocharyan points out that Armenia has closed borders with two
neighboring countries, but it is not isolation.
"Armenia has never been in isolation and I am sure it won't. The
situation with the borders was the same during my presidency and this
did not prevent us from developing the economy at two-digit growth
rates. There might be some positive developments. The sanctions
against Iran may be softened. I suppose the Abkhaz section of the
railway may be re-launched. A flexible formula is needed for the
railway operation not to affect the sensitive aspects of the parties.
I think Armenia must be the most active broker in this process,
because it directly concerns its vital interests", says Kocharyan.
http://www.arminfo.am/index.cfm?objectid=61C15D70-2F7C-11E4-BD8E0EB7C0D21663
of Karabakh conflict
by Marianna Lazarian
Friday, August 29, 16:59
The second president of Armenia, Robert Kocharyan, is not optimistic
about the prospects of final settlement of the Karabakh conflict.
When commenting on the recent meeting of the Presidents of Armenia,
Azerbaijan and Russia, Robert Kocharyan says in his interview with
Noyan Tapan that he lacks sufficient information to impartially assess
the efficiency of the meeting. "However, the fact of the meeting after
a long break and after the escalation of tension along the Line of
Contact is positive. I would refrain from optimistic assessments of
the final settlement prospects", he says.
When asked if the Karabakh conflict may complicate Armenia's accession
to the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), Kocharyan replies that any of
the EAEU countries may formally block the process and demand
establishing a customs border between Armenia and the NKR, and this
will unlikely be acceptable to Armenia.
"In the meantime, the NKR has no operating borders with other
countries, and the NKR-Azeri border is the Line of Contact of the
troops. That is to say, there is no threat of penetration of
commodities into the EAEU territory via the NKR which can endanger the
economic interests of the EAEU member states", he says.
As regards the issue of Armenia's isolation and the possibility to get
out of the isolation without the final determination of Karabakh's
status, Kocharyan points out that Armenia has closed borders with two
neighboring countries, but it is not isolation.
"Armenia has never been in isolation and I am sure it won't. The
situation with the borders was the same during my presidency and this
did not prevent us from developing the economy at two-digit growth
rates. There might be some positive developments. The sanctions
against Iran may be softened. I suppose the Abkhaz section of the
railway may be re-launched. A flexible formula is needed for the
railway operation not to affect the sensitive aspects of the parties.
I think Armenia must be the most active broker in this process,
because it directly concerns its vital interests", says Kocharyan.
http://www.arminfo.am/index.cfm?objectid=61C15D70-2F7C-11E4-BD8E0EB7C0D21663