It may destroy Armenia
"If there is one point in the document that is inacceptable, the entire document is inacceptable," says politician, former RA Ambassador to Canada Ara Papyan.
"A1+" asked Mr. Papyan to share his views on the Madrid Principles, which are on the table of negotiations for the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resolution. Based on the principle that he mentioned, Papyan assures:
"When we examine the Madrid Principles from this angle, it becomes clear that there are many similar propositions, which may destroy not only the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, but also the Republic of Armenia."
He called everybody's attention to just one point stated in the Madrid Principles.
"This was either not interpreted or poorly interpreted. The Madrid Principles foresee the right of all deportees and refugees to return to their former dwellings. First, I would like to point out that the mentioned proposition doesn't foresee return, but simply the right to return. In other words, they will return to the sites where the guarantors whom we still don't know will be able to ensure the security of those who return. It is clear that they will first and foremost be the five regions and Shushi."
Papyan believes that perhaps it is possible in separate residential and highly-populated areas with certain reservations, but they won't put tanks near every third building in Baku, Sumgait, Gandzak or Shamkhor.
Papyan also recalls that International Law gave a clear legal definition of the word "refugee". "The Charter of the office of the UN Supreme Commissioner for Refugees gave the following definition for refugee on December 14, 1950: "Any individual who is out of his former indigenous residence." Taking into account that the Madrid Document is going to be signed by Armenia as well, Armenia will also have the commitment to respect the right of refugees to return to their previous dwellings."
Papyan concluded by the following regarding the possible interpretation of, as he put it, themost dangerous point in the Madrid Principles:
"If the Madrid Principles are approved, be ready to receive at least half a million Turks in the Syunik, Gegharkunik, Lori and Ararat regions."
