Ex-FM: we could use Aliyev's readiness to concede Karabakh

PanARMENIAN.Net - Former Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian, referring to recently declassified U.S. State Department documents, stated in a Facebook post that they dismantle the narrative surrounding the Meghri issue.

According to Oskanian, certain individuals have long insisted that the idea of exchanging Nagorno-Karabakh for Meghri was an initiative by then-President Robert Kocharyan directed at Azerbaijan’s President Heydar Aliyev. However, he asserts that the declassified documents clearly demonstrate that this proposal actually came from Aliyev himself, and Oskanian was a direct witness to it.

"When Kocharyan informed Vazgen Sargsyan and me in Geneva that Aliyev had made such a proposal, we immediately noted the most crucial aspect of the story—Aliyev was willing to give up Karabakh. That was the main takeaway. We knew we were not giving up Meghri, but we could take advantage of Aliyev’s readiness to concede Karabakh. That is precisely what we successfully did after 1.5 years of negotiations in Key West, where the OSCE Minsk Group document recorded that Karabakh, via Lachin, would remain with Armenia, while Azerbaijan would have a surface-level overpass along the Araz River to connect with Nakhichevan," Oskanian stated.

He added that ignoring Aliyev’s proposal at the time would have been a diplomatic mistake.

"I believe it is time for those who exploit the Meghri issue to at least remain silent, as their actions only make the risk of losing Meghri or a part of Syunik more real.

For those unfamiliar with diplomacy and foreign policy, let me explain: The key takeaway from the State Department documents is that they significantly strengthen Armenia’s negotiating position against Azerbaijan regarding any territorial concessions, corridors, or even roads. Azerbaijan was once willing to trade Karabakh for a connection to Nakhichevan. Meanwhile, Pashinyan handed Karabakh over to Azerbaijan, leaving Baku without a bargaining chip to demand a corridor or even a road.

The real danger for Armenia, however, is that Pashinyan, who lacks diplomatic skills and has turned Armenia into a non-factor on the international stage, is incapable of leveraging this position in negotiations. Do you see the absurdity and the risk of our situation? We have a government that has already given up Karabakh and may now give up a part of Syunik as well," Oskanian warned.

Earlier, RFE/RL released a documentary titled "When, Who, and What Was Negotiated Over Meghri—According to the Declassified U.S. State Department Documents," exploring the 1999 land exchange discussions.