Will Karabakh conflict be settled this year?
"Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaktsutiun adheres to the opinion that Armenia should withdraw from the talks as Turkey sets preconditions in Armenian-Turkish relations, particularly in view of the Karabakh conflict settlement," says Giro Manoyan, ARF Bureau's Hay Dat and Political Affairs Office Director.
From June 10 to 11 the Hay Dat Central Council will organize a pan-Armenian forum in Stepanakert featuring more than 120 representatives from 20 countries. Discussions will focus on the Artsakh issue and the Armenian-Turkish relations.
Only Armenian parliamentarians are invited to the forum. Foreign Minister of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic Georgy Petrosian, Armenia's ex Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian, ARF Supreme Council members David Lokian and Armen Rustamian are expected to make addressing speeches.
Armenia's Deputy FM Shavarsh Kocharian will represent Armenia at the forum organized under the auspices of NKR President Bako Sahakian and Pyunik Foundation.
Asked whether it means that Bako Sahakian accepts Dashnaktsutiun's stance, Giro Manoyan said: "The authorities of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic and the society want to make their stance audible; hence Mr. Sahakian organized the forum to sound ARF's posture."
The Madrid principals on the Karabakh conflict regulation are acceptable for the Dashnaktsutiun as "they convey a concession and not a compromise which implies adequate concessions from both sides."
It is high time Karabakh became a full participant of the negotiations otherwise the talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan will be formal.
The Director of Hay Dat and Political Affairs Office thinks that the NKR conflict might be settled by the end of the year. "The sides might sign an agreement on the key principles of the conflict settlement. The document doesn't stem from the interests of Artsakh and Armenia as we shall make ourselves committed to a document which is not in line with our interests."
