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Edward Sharmazanov: The key to settlement of the Karabakh conflict is
not in Washington or any other capital city but in the hands of the
people of Karabakh
by Tatevik Shahunyan
Thursday, May 8, 17:00
The key to settlement of the Karabakh conflict is not in Washington
or any other capital city but in the hands of the people of Karabakh,
vice-speaker of the Armenian parliament, press-secretary of the
Republican Party of Armenia, Edward Sharmazanov, said at today's
meeting with students of Yerevan Pedagogical University.
Any conflict, including the Karabakh one, should be resolved through
talks, Eduard Sharmazanov said.
"In several days we will mark the 20th anniversary of ceasefire, and
the Armenian side, on behalf of Armenia and the Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic, proved to support peaceful settlement of the conflict. We
appreciate the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group, but we must realize
that even theoretical aspiration for military solution must be
eliminated. While Armenian side continues to support peaceful
settlement, Azerbaijan turned Armenophobia into ideology," Sharmazanov
said.
He also added that the most important condition for settlement of the
Karabakh issue is willingness of the parties to the conflict to make
concessions, meanwhile, after the extradition of Ramil Safarov
militaristic rhetoric of the official Baku has become contrary to the
three principles of the OSCE Minsk Group - non-use of force,
territorial integrity and the right of peoples to self-determination.
"Azerbaijanis are guided only by the principle of territorial
integrity. However, for the settlement of the conflict, the Nagorno
-Karabakh Republic should become a full participant in the
negotiations. It is impossible to reach a final positive outcome
without this. And definite is one thing: NKR can not be a part of
Azerbaijan", he said. To recall, on 8 May The U.S. Co-chairman of
the OSCE Minsk Group, James Warlick, made a speech at the Carnegie
Endowment in Washington, and unveiled proposals from international
mediators to resolve the Karabakh conflict. He called on the parties
to take decisive steps and actions to achieve peace. According to him
proposals for settlement are at the negotiating table, and the
parties should be guided by them.
At the heart of a deal are the UN Charter and relevant documents and
the core principles of the Helsinki Final Act. In particular, we focus
on those principles and commitments that pertain to 4 the non-use or
threat of force, territorial integrity, and equal rights and
self-determination of peoples.
Building on that foundation, there are six elements that will have to
be part of any peace agreement if it is to endure. While the
sequencing and details of these elements remains the subject of
negotiations, they must be seen as an integrated whole. Any attempt to
select some elements over others will make it impossible to achieve a
balanced solution.
In no particular order, these elements are:
First, in light of Nagorno-Karabakh's complex history, the sides
should commit to determining its final legal status through a mutually
agreed and legally binding expression of will in the future. This is
not optional. Interim status will be temporary.
Second, the area within the boundaries of the former Nagorno-Karabakh
Autonomous Region that is not controlled by Baku should be granted an
interim status that, at a minimum, provides guarantees for security
and self-governance.
Third, the occupied territories surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh should be
returned to Azerbaijani control. There can be no settlement without
respect for
Azerbaijan's sovereignty, and the recognition that its sovereignty
over these territories must be restored.
Fourth , there should be a corridor linking Armenia to
Nagorno-Karabakh. It must be wide enough to provide secure passage,
but it cannot encompass the whole of Lachin district.
Fifth, an enduring settlement will have to recognize the right of all
IDPs and refugees to return to their former places of residence.
Sixth and finally, a settlement must include international security
guarantees that would include a peacekeeping operation.
We intend to continue working through the Minsk Group as the primary
channel for resolving this conflict, Warlick said.
http://www.arminfo.am/index.cfm?objectid=012E8BF0-D6B1-11E3-81C10EB7C0D21663
From: Baghdasarian
not in Washington or any other capital city but in the hands of the
people of Karabakh
by Tatevik Shahunyan
Thursday, May 8, 17:00
The key to settlement of the Karabakh conflict is not in Washington
or any other capital city but in the hands of the people of Karabakh,
vice-speaker of the Armenian parliament, press-secretary of the
Republican Party of Armenia, Edward Sharmazanov, said at today's
meeting with students of Yerevan Pedagogical University.
Any conflict, including the Karabakh one, should be resolved through
talks, Eduard Sharmazanov said.
"In several days we will mark the 20th anniversary of ceasefire, and
the Armenian side, on behalf of Armenia and the Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic, proved to support peaceful settlement of the conflict. We
appreciate the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group, but we must realize
that even theoretical aspiration for military solution must be
eliminated. While Armenian side continues to support peaceful
settlement, Azerbaijan turned Armenophobia into ideology," Sharmazanov
said.
He also added that the most important condition for settlement of the
Karabakh issue is willingness of the parties to the conflict to make
concessions, meanwhile, after the extradition of Ramil Safarov
militaristic rhetoric of the official Baku has become contrary to the
three principles of the OSCE Minsk Group - non-use of force,
territorial integrity and the right of peoples to self-determination.
"Azerbaijanis are guided only by the principle of territorial
integrity. However, for the settlement of the conflict, the Nagorno
-Karabakh Republic should become a full participant in the
negotiations. It is impossible to reach a final positive outcome
without this. And definite is one thing: NKR can not be a part of
Azerbaijan", he said. To recall, on 8 May The U.S. Co-chairman of
the OSCE Minsk Group, James Warlick, made a speech at the Carnegie
Endowment in Washington, and unveiled proposals from international
mediators to resolve the Karabakh conflict. He called on the parties
to take decisive steps and actions to achieve peace. According to him
proposals for settlement are at the negotiating table, and the
parties should be guided by them.
At the heart of a deal are the UN Charter and relevant documents and
the core principles of the Helsinki Final Act. In particular, we focus
on those principles and commitments that pertain to 4 the non-use or
threat of force, territorial integrity, and equal rights and
self-determination of peoples.
Building on that foundation, there are six elements that will have to
be part of any peace agreement if it is to endure. While the
sequencing and details of these elements remains the subject of
negotiations, they must be seen as an integrated whole. Any attempt to
select some elements over others will make it impossible to achieve a
balanced solution.
In no particular order, these elements are:
First, in light of Nagorno-Karabakh's complex history, the sides
should commit to determining its final legal status through a mutually
agreed and legally binding expression of will in the future. This is
not optional. Interim status will be temporary.
Second, the area within the boundaries of the former Nagorno-Karabakh
Autonomous Region that is not controlled by Baku should be granted an
interim status that, at a minimum, provides guarantees for security
and self-governance.
Third, the occupied territories surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh should be
returned to Azerbaijani control. There can be no settlement without
respect for
Azerbaijan's sovereignty, and the recognition that its sovereignty
over these territories must be restored.
Fourth , there should be a corridor linking Armenia to
Nagorno-Karabakh. It must be wide enough to provide secure passage,
but it cannot encompass the whole of Lachin district.
Fifth, an enduring settlement will have to recognize the right of all
IDPs and refugees to return to their former places of residence.
Sixth and finally, a settlement must include international security
guarantees that would include a peacekeeping operation.
We intend to continue working through the Minsk Group as the primary
channel for resolving this conflict, Warlick said.
http://www.arminfo.am/index.cfm?objectid=012E8BF0-D6B1-11E3-81C10EB7C0D21663
From: Baghdasarian