Main arguments of Armenia’s first President (video)Next Karabakh proposals will be even worse The first President of Armenia, Levon Ter-Petrosyan, has recently given an interview to the Armenian Public Television, where he dwelled on the Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh) conflict settlement, the stance of the international community and their bloc’s program ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections. PAN has collected and presents his main arguments. March 30, 2017 PanARMENIAN.Net - -The [Nagorno Karabakh] conflict has a solution but each side holds negotiations in a way to gain more advantages. At the beginning, there were a lot of rifts but currently there are just a couple provisions the sides can’t agree upon. -Recognition of Artsakh’s independence is not up to Azerbaijan. The status of the republic will be determined in the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group. The problem has not been resolved so far, because the international community didn’t push for it. There are new circumstances which inspire optimism for a soonest solution of the conflict. -If Armenia says it’s ready to sign the document, Azerbaijan will have no choice. However, Armenia never expressed willingness to do so. -The proposals on the table are the least evil. If we don’t accept this one, the next one will be much worse. - Artsakh’s reengagement in the negotiation process is not envisaged yet, although the mediators have several times mentioned such a possibility. I know when it will happen but will not detail it now. -We can call these territories liberated, historical, sacred and so on; however, the international law doesn’t recognize such wording. We can say “we have liberated them”, but the international community calls it just “occupation”. -We don’t have a problem with Azerbaijan. We are two conflicting parties, who addressed to the international organizations for a problem solution. Thus, whatever decision these organizations make, Azerbaijan and Armenia will have to accept it. -Azerbaijan understands that the countries which sign the agreement will become the guarantors of its implementation. If there are violations regarding the territories of NKR and Lachin, Armenia will have the right to interfere. -Aliyev [President of Azerbaijan] is a rational person and he tries ‘to get a big piece of the pie’ -The people of Armenia must urge the authorities to resolve this problem. The elected power is obliged to out an end to people’s suffering. -We say we are ready [to accept the OSCE MG proposals], but as a matter of fact, it’s the Republican Party, who is ready. The others have no idea. If a political force doesn’t offer concrete steps to be taken towards the conflict resolution, I would advise the citizens against voting for them, because if this problem is not settled, the other pledges don’t matter. Most popular in the section Who is who in the web of so many Sargsyans Controversy in quotations There will be no ideal solution Split of opposition votes More articles in this section 6 simple facts about Armenia–Karabakh–Azerbaijan triangle Everything you need to know Bizarre election promises Church taxation and restoration of monasteries in Western Armenia From concessions to reunion Karabakh issue in election campaign | Macron says France commemorates 109th anniv. of Armenian genocide Today France commemorates the 109th anniversary of the Armenian genocide of 1915, Macron says. CSTO recognizes Armenia’s sovereign right to withdraw Tasmagambetov has said that if Armenia decides to leave the organization, “it will be the sovereign right of Armenia.” Pashinyan: We must stop searching for homeland, we have found that homeland Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has shared a message on the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Erdogan wants “realistic road map” for relations with Armenia Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called for a “new realistic road map” for relations with Armenia. |