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WHAT DOES AMBASSADOR HEFFERN SAY?
Turan Information Agency, Azerbaijan
July 9, 2014 Wednesday
The Armenian media published interview with the U.S. ambassador to
Armenia, John Heffern, who regards the return of the territories
surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh one of the six elements of the conflict.
According to the ambassador, it does not mean that the territory of
Nagorno-Karabakh must be returned to Azerbaijan first of all. "It is
implicit in the framework of the final settlement of the question: six
agreed elements state that the final status of Nagorno-Karabakh will
be solved by free will. Then the territories around Nagorno Karabakh,
except Lachin corridor, will be returned. So there is nothing new in
what I say, " said John Heffern.
Former advisor to the president of Azerbaijan in 1993-99, and
participant in the negotiations on the Karabakh conflict, political
scientist Eldar Namazov commented on the words of Ambassador, which
caused an inexplicable enthusiasm in Baku.
"The statement by U.S. Ambassador to Armenia made me, at least,
perplexing. First, the six elements as a basis for future negotiations
on the peace agreement have not been adopted yet, and it is a
subject of further negotiations. The U.S. position on the Karabakh
settlement was represented by Ambassador Warlick J. on May 7, 2014
at the Carnegie Endowment."
"There are six elements that should form part of a peace agreement,
if we want it to be long-lasting. Priority of these items and their
related parts, of course, must be determined in the negotiations, but
they must be regarded as an indivisible whole. Any attempt to seize,
retain some elements will make a balanced solution impossible. "
Based on this, any attempts to determine in advance the sequence
of implementing these principles are counterproductive, especially
if they come not from the parties to the conflict, but from one of
the mediators.
Secondly, the position set out by Mr. J. Heffern has always been
regarded as unacceptable for Azerbaijan in principle, and that is
why is a deadlock.
In practice it means that in the case of non reticence the final
status of Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan cannot rely on the liberation
of the occupied areas outside of Nagorno-Karabakh.
Then what is the essence of the peace process and the benefits to
Azerbaijan? Open borders, begin to develop economic and political
relations with Armenia, while maintaining the occupation of
Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding areas? It is clear that this approach
is not acceptable, and therefore cannot be seriously discussed.
Finally, surprising is the moment chosen for this statement - the
possibility of meeting the presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia in
Paris is being studied now. As far as can be judged, by itself such
a meeting is in question, and American diplomacy in recent days by
the mouth of their representatives to the OSCE, and in Washington,
is making considerable efforts to implement this initiative.
I also think such a meeting is very important, and I support the six
elements as the basis and the beginning of negotiations on the big
peace agreement. But I do not think that the last statement of the
Ambassador J.Heffern adds hope and optimism in this matter. Although
I do not exclude the probability of the traditional "liberal
interpretation" of the Ambassador's words by the Armenian media,
said Eldar Namazov. -02Â-
From: A. Papazian
Turan Information Agency, Azerbaijan
July 9, 2014 Wednesday
The Armenian media published interview with the U.S. ambassador to
Armenia, John Heffern, who regards the return of the territories
surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh one of the six elements of the conflict.
According to the ambassador, it does not mean that the territory of
Nagorno-Karabakh must be returned to Azerbaijan first of all. "It is
implicit in the framework of the final settlement of the question: six
agreed elements state that the final status of Nagorno-Karabakh will
be solved by free will. Then the territories around Nagorno Karabakh,
except Lachin corridor, will be returned. So there is nothing new in
what I say, " said John Heffern.
Former advisor to the president of Azerbaijan in 1993-99, and
participant in the negotiations on the Karabakh conflict, political
scientist Eldar Namazov commented on the words of Ambassador, which
caused an inexplicable enthusiasm in Baku.
"The statement by U.S. Ambassador to Armenia made me, at least,
perplexing. First, the six elements as a basis for future negotiations
on the peace agreement have not been adopted yet, and it is a
subject of further negotiations. The U.S. position on the Karabakh
settlement was represented by Ambassador Warlick J. on May 7, 2014
at the Carnegie Endowment."
"There are six elements that should form part of a peace agreement,
if we want it to be long-lasting. Priority of these items and their
related parts, of course, must be determined in the negotiations, but
they must be regarded as an indivisible whole. Any attempt to seize,
retain some elements will make a balanced solution impossible. "
Based on this, any attempts to determine in advance the sequence
of implementing these principles are counterproductive, especially
if they come not from the parties to the conflict, but from one of
the mediators.
Secondly, the position set out by Mr. J. Heffern has always been
regarded as unacceptable for Azerbaijan in principle, and that is
why is a deadlock.
In practice it means that in the case of non reticence the final
status of Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan cannot rely on the liberation
of the occupied areas outside of Nagorno-Karabakh.
Then what is the essence of the peace process and the benefits to
Azerbaijan? Open borders, begin to develop economic and political
relations with Armenia, while maintaining the occupation of
Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding areas? It is clear that this approach
is not acceptable, and therefore cannot be seriously discussed.
Finally, surprising is the moment chosen for this statement - the
possibility of meeting the presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia in
Paris is being studied now. As far as can be judged, by itself such
a meeting is in question, and American diplomacy in recent days by
the mouth of their representatives to the OSCE, and in Washington,
is making considerable efforts to implement this initiative.
I also think such a meeting is very important, and I support the six
elements as the basis and the beginning of negotiations on the big
peace agreement. But I do not think that the last statement of the
Ambassador J.Heffern adds hope and optimism in this matter. Although
I do not exclude the probability of the traditional "liberal
interpretation" of the Ambassador's words by the Armenian media,
said Eldar Namazov. -02Â-
From: A. Papazian