RA Leader: Unfortunately Karabakh Issue Leaves Little Space for OptimismNovember 17, 2006 - 13:37 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - "Armenia attaches great attention to the regional cooperation. We think that the settlement of conflicts should not be considered as a precondition for establishing dialogue and cooperation," Armenian President Robert Kocharian said when addressing the Bertelsmann Fund in Berlin, reported the RA leader's press office. The President said in part, "Regional cooperation should be considered as an efficient measure for the building of trust targeted at resolution of existing discrepancies. It's obvious that unsettled conflicts impede the process of natural development of the South Caucasus. That is why we adhere to a peaceful settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. The OSCE Minsk Group does a great deal of work to bring our positions closer but unfortunately the intense talks leave little space for optimism. Our principal position is that the people of Karabakh have asserted their right for self-determination. This was done in accordance with the international law. Many independent states emerged after the decline of former empires. The independence of Nagorno Karabakh was obtained after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Moreover, it was the time of the end of great ideological separation. Nagorno Karabakh has never been a part of independent Azerbaijan. Successfully building its state system the Nagorno Karabakh Republic has probed its right to existence. It regularly holds democratic presidential and parliamentary elections and we are the witnesses of the development of civic society. A generation, which is the embodiment and guarantor of this state system, has already grown. We do not remember a single state which would abdicate from independence after enjoying it for 15 years. Karabakh has no intention of the kind either. We are speaking of irreversibility of the changes that occurred in the consciousness of the people." Top stories President of the Armenian parliament Alen Simonyan met with the Speaker of the Azerbaijani Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova. Achieving stable peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan remains a priority of the OSCE, said Ian Borg. The Cabinet of Ministers decided on Thursday, November 9 to allocated AMD 120 million to arrange the gathering. Michael Roth believes sanctions must be put on the table after Baku‘s ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh. Partner news | Putin congratulates Pashinyan’s birthday Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on his birthday on June 1. Opposition motorcade en route to Gyumri for large rally A motorcade of protesters headed by Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan is heading to the city of Gyumri. Russia: Armenia’s frozen membership weakens CSTO position in Caucasus A Russian envoy said any step that could alienate the CSTO member states from each other is “deeply wrong”. Prosecutors to appeal Armenia ex-President’s acquittal Sargsyan was acquitted on Friday, May 31 more than four years after going on trial on corruption charges. |