Terry Davis didn't show enough diplomacy in Armenia
While officials having the same viewpoint as Terry Davis are heading institutions like the Council of Europe, the peace in South Caucasus will not be long lasting.
The visit of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe Terry Davis to Armenia once again proved that the European officials give more significance to their political or personal benefits rather than to the values that they are supposed to support. We are already used to the fact that in his announcements Davis mostly takes a pro-Azerbaijani position, and in the few cases, when he doesn't, he tries not to treat Baku badly. This is what happened this time. The European official permitted himself the accents, which are not adequate neither for him, not for the Council of Europe.
In his speech made in Yerevan the Secretary General thought it was worthy to teach Armenia how to build its relations with the neighboring countries. "The example that occurs to me at once is the one of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Unfortunately, the conflict of Nagorno-Karabakh still remains the most essential obstacle on the way to peace, stabilization and cooperation in this part of Europe. The resolution of this conflict is of great interest to both Armenia and Azerbaijan. Another example that comes to my mind is the relations with your western neighbor, Turkey. The relations are not built on healthy bases because of the events which took place not ten but a lot more years ago. I share your grief. Everyone should confess that the history can be neither ignored, not rewritten by order. We all know that many people died. However, it is not only necessary to honor the memory of the victims, but also realize that it is time to look ahead to the future. The people of Armenia and Turkey should do so not only for themselves, but for the sake of their children as well," said Davis in Yerevan.
The words themselves are kind of truthful, but there is one "but". According to some unspecified data, Terry Davis has serious personal interest in Azerbaijani oil which is in fact the reason of the like announcements, which are to be answered by the official Yerevan. Political scientist Levon Melik-Shahnazaryan mentioned, that the present the Secretary General of the Council of Europe has been involved in car spare parts' sale. "As it may be observed, he has still preserved his views of a trader in politics as well. In this case Terry Davis doesn't express his personal opinion, or the opinion of the Council of Europe, but the viewpoint of his superiors. But the Motherland is not a car and is not to be sold and such an approach of the European official must be unacceptable for Armenia," emphasized the Armenian political scientist. In fact calling the nation of Nagorno-Karabakh "separatists" in contrast to Kosovo Albanians, "who fight for independence" is quite unacceptable.
The official Yerevan didn't come out with an answer to the Secretary General, instead the official Stepanakert did. According to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nagorno Karabakh Georgi Petrosyan, the situation in Karabakh is indeed quite different of that of in Kosovo in many aspects. "But Kosovo urges to become a full member of international law as an independent state, just like Nagorno-Karabakh does. Terry Davis should be aware that the leadership of the temporary institutions of self-government of Kosovo, established by the temporary administration of the UNO has announced more than once that the independence of Kosovo isn't liable for any discussions," emphasized Petrosyan.
In its turn, the Commission of Nagorno Karabakh National Assembly on foreign affairs is sure that "the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh, having successfully fought the Azeri aggression, having the experience of government administration and now striving towards the democratic development, has more legitimacy to be recognized by the international community, rather than the formation of Davis."
Most probably Davis understood that he went too far in Yerevan. This is proved by his statement where he accused the Armenian Mass Media of "misinterpretation of his words". "My last visit was widely illustrated, but, unfortunately some of my words were misinterpreted. No doubt the Armenian journalists have the right to disagree and criticize my opinion on such an issue, like that of Nagorno-Karabakh. Several magazines wrote that I compared Nagorno-Karabakh elections with gay-parade. This is absurd. I said that my viewpoint regarding the territorial integrity of the Council of Europe's Member States and consequently the right of the status of Nagorno-Karabakh is quite clear and unchangeable. The fact that I do not always react to the elections held in Nagorno-Karabakh, doesn't mean at all that my viewpoint on their competence has changed. I simply drew a parallel between the elections and the limitation of freedom of speech of the sexual minorities in European countries," said Davis.
It's obvious; the excuses are lame and were made by force. But one thing is sure; officials having the same viewpoint as Terry Davis are heading institutions like the Council of Europe, the peace in South Caucasus will not be long lasting unfortunately.
The words themselves are kind of truthful, but there is one "but". According to some unspecified data, Terry Davis has serious personal interest in Azerbaijani oil which is in fact the reason of the like announcements, which are to be answered by the official Yerevan. Political scientist Levon Melik-Shahnazaryan mentioned, that the present the Secretary General of the Council of Europe has been involved in car spare parts' sale. "As it may be observed, he has still preserved his views of a trader in politics as well. In this case Terry Davis doesn't express his personal opinion, or the opinion of the Council of Europe, but the viewpoint of his superiors. But the Motherland is not a car and is not to be sold and such an approach of the European official must be unacceptable for Armenia," emphasized the Armenian political scientist. In fact calling the nation of Nagorno-Karabakh "separatists" in contrast to Kosovo Albanians, "who fight for independence" is quite unacceptable.
The official Yerevan didn't come out with an answer to the Secretary General, instead the official Stepanakert did. According to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nagorno Karabakh Georgi Petrosyan, the situation in Karabakh is indeed quite different of that of in Kosovo in many aspects. "But Kosovo urges to become a full member of international law as an independent state, just like Nagorno-Karabakh does. Terry Davis should be aware that the leadership of the temporary institutions of self-government of Kosovo, established by the temporary administration of the UNO has announced more than once that the independence of Kosovo isn't liable for any discussions," emphasized Petrosyan.
In its turn, the Commission of Nagorno Karabakh National Assembly on foreign affairs is sure that "the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh, having successfully fought the Azeri aggression, having the experience of government administration and now striving towards the democratic development, has more legitimacy to be recognized by the international community, rather than the formation of Davis."
Most probably Davis understood that he went too far in Yerevan. This is proved by his statement where he accused the Armenian Mass Media of "misinterpretation of his words". "My last visit was widely illustrated, but, unfortunately some of my words were misinterpreted. No doubt the Armenian journalists have the right to disagree and criticize my opinion on such an issue, like that of Nagorno-Karabakh. Several magazines wrote that I compared Nagorno-Karabakh elections with gay-parade. This is absurd. I said that my viewpoint regarding the territorial integrity of the Council of Europe's Member States and consequently the right of the status of Nagorno-Karabakh is quite clear and unchangeable. The fact that I do not always react to the elections held in Nagorno-Karabakh, doesn't mean at all that my viewpoint on their competence has changed. I simply drew a parallel between the elections and the limitation of freedom of speech of the sexual minorities in European countries," said Davis.
It's obvious; the excuses are lame and were made by force. But one thing is sure; officials having the same viewpoint as Terry Davis are heading institutions like the Council of Europe, the peace in South Caucasus will not be long lasting unfortunately.
