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KARABAKH CONFLICT NOT NEGOTIATED?

Politics

We had a conversation on the Karabakh conflict settlement with chairman of the NA for foreign affairs Armen Rustamyan.

-How do you assess the package that was recently issued by the Co-Chairs, according to which Armenia will return 5 Azeri regions under the condition of conduction a referendum in 10-15 years?

-First, I think it\\\'s premature to give any precise assessment, since the matter concerns the whole package while a summed up estimation can be given only in case of awareness of all its constituents. Certainly, it\\\'s good if we find a compromise, since the principal task now is to find the correct format of concessions. During the recent hearings we highlighted several important points. First, the status of Nagorno Karabakh should be determined on the basis of the right of self-determination, the security guarantees should be absolute. It means that with receiving the status Karabakh should receive security at international level.

-What do you think about conduction of a referendum?

-Positively. Taking into account that one referendum has been already held I do not think that conduction of another referendum would conflict with our position. The second referendum will mean recognition of the right of self-determination.

-Is Armenia empowered to take any decisions in the negotiation process if it has not recognized Karabakh\\\'s independence de jure yet? -Certainly, Armenia does not have ultimate right to make decisions. Armenia can represent Karabakh in the structure, where NKR was not represented due to its being unrecognized. It is natural and logical. Armenia can act for Karabakh if the matter concerns the latter\\\'s joining Armenia. In this case Karabakh\\\'s participation is not necessary. If Azerbaijan agrees on Karabakh\\\'s joining Armenia the issue can be settled in two ways – declaration of independence or unification. The Key West negotiations were held with this logic. Later the conflict was stated as one between Armenia and Azerbaijan. It lasted for rather along time and now we face the task to change the erroneous opinion on the international community.

-Don\\\'t you think that the incumbent authorities provoked this erroneous opinion by separating Karabakh from the negotiation process?

-First, Karabakh was not separated, second, the process can hardly be stated as negotiations. The current developments can be called consultations, while negotiations imply participation of all the parties to conflict. First of all the conflicting parties should recognize each other as such. If now Azerbaijan does not recognize Karabakh the process will be doomed to failure. It will mean that Azerbaijan refuses from talks.

-The armistice was concluded with the participation of Karabakh, wasn’t it?

- Yes, due to this very reason we say that the logic should be preserved. No negotiation process is possible without the participation of Karabakh.

-What but negotiations can be called the meetings in Key West and other Kocharyan-Aliyev meetings?

-Those were consultations at a high level with the purpose to find a solution for the Karabakh conflict. Negotiations can lead to peaceful agreement and they will start when the parties sit at the bargaining table.