ATKINSON'S REPORT WILL NOT SAVE AZERBAIJANIANS

PanARMENIAN.Net - Baku leaders assert that they are satisfied with the passed resolution and find the resolution quite acceptable for Azerbaijan. However, Baku oppositionists and independent political scientists do not hold the same opinion. They have detected a number of points that are dangerous for Azerbaijan. In-depth study of the resolution text allows to note that the Azerbaijani should have no less pretensions to Atkinson than Armenians. To make sure, let us try to go through some of the points of the passed resolution.

In the first point there is something not accepted for Yerevan, since in this part of the document it is mentioned about the "occupation of considerable parts of the territory of Azerbaijan" and the "control of separatist forces over Nagorno-Karabakh region". But the Azerbaijani didn't manage to achieve mentioning of Armenia in that point. Here the matter concerns "occupation" by "Armenian forces", that is to say Karabakh with whom official Baku refuses to contact.

The second point is most problematic for Azerbaijan. In this part PACE actually confirms that the independence of Nagorno-Karabakh will be fully allowable if it is achieved through a lawful process. In the resolution it is mentioned: "…independence and secession of a regional territory from a state may only be achieved through a lawful and peaceful process based on democratic support by the inhabitants of such territory". This formulation which is completely undesirable for Azerbaijan was kept in the final version of the document.

The third point is about the necesseity of fulfilling the four resolutions of the United Nations. It should be mentioned that all the resolutions passed yet in the war did not only call Armenians to quit the territories under control, but also demanded from Azerbaijan to agree on armistice immediately. It was Baku that broke the resolution first. This was admited also by the former co-chairmen of OSCE Minsk group, for instance Nikolay Gribkov.

The fourth point of the resolution touches upon the inadmissibility of the use of force and condemns aggressive appeals and "military propaganda". This cannot refer to Armenia since aggressive appeals are made from Baku only. Thus, this point is also a stone thrown in the garden of Azerbaijan.

In the fifth point it is mentioned about the necessity to create an "ad hoc Committee" within the frames of PACE for dealing with the Karabakh conflict. Regardless of the wish of Azerbaijan to involve European Union in the process of conflict resolution, the "ad hoc Committee" will not dublicate the mission of the Minsk group but will become a bridge between the two mediators and the Assembly. The Committee will be formed of the deputies representing the member countries of the Minsk group and will "report annually to the Assembly on the action of their governments in this respect".

The sixth point of the resolution is about the inadmissibility of armed conflict. It is common knowledge that Armenia is not interested in recommencing military actions. Meanwhile on Monday president Ilham Aliev again mentioned about the determination of Azeri authorities to regain controll over Karabakh by means of military actions.

The eighth point mentions the importance of regional cooperation. This doesn't refer to Armenia since official Yerevan has always been ready for any contacts with neighbouring countries including Azerbaijan. It is Baku that rejects any cooperation with Armenia within the frames of regional programmes.

The ninth point is not favorable for Armenia since it talks about the existence of two communities in Karabakh. It means that the legally elected president of NKR Arkadi Ghukasyan stands on the same level with some Nizami Bakhmanov who introduces himself as the "leader of Azerbaijan community of Nagorno Karabakh". Nevertheless, in Baku they are also not very happy with the formulation of this point since according to the stated appeal, Ilham Aliev will have to enter into negotiations with Arkadi Ghukasyan. In this case he may not be called the president of NKR but the "political representative" of Armenian community of Nagorno Karabakh.

Quite important is the accent of the tenth point where it is talked about the ethnic expulsions. Azerbaijan delegation didn't manage to achieve the mentioning of territories contolled by Karabakh forces. It means that PACE condemns both the creation of conditions for Azerbaijani to quit the security zones around NKR and the ethnic expulsions carried out by Azerbaijan authorities in Shahumyan and Getashen.

The eleventh point of the reolution condemns the propaganda of hatred. PACE calls on Armenia and Azerbaijan to "foster reconciliation, confidence-building and mutual understanding among their peoples through schools, universities and the media". Meanwhile, it is widely known that it is Azerbaijan that hampers the contacts between social and professional structures of the two countries, their youth and journalists. Armenia anyway encourages any attempts to establish dialogue on a non-governmental level.

Thus, it is absolutely obvious that together with all its shortcomings, the resolution cannot be considered an achievement of Azerbaijan diplomacy. The attempts of Baku parliamentarians to convince their compatriots that they have won a serious victory over Armenians is just a propaganda.

Artem Yerkanyan