"Serzh Sargsyan's formulation was not dignified"
Political scientist Manvel Sargsyan says Serzh Sargsyan was able to present the essence of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in Astana, but he doesn't think the formulation regarding Armenia's recognition of the NKR's independence was dignified.
"How can he announce from the OSCE rostrum that Armenia will recognize NKR's independence, if Azerbaijan continues to threaten? What if Azerbaijan doesn't continue? The recognition of the NKR's independence cannot be linked to certain issues. Should more people die for Armenia to recognize the NKR's independence? If a war breaks out again, will Armenians send their relatives to die?" Mr. Sargsyan told "A1+" today.
The political scientist praises Serzh Sargsyan for reminding the OSCE-member states that they are supplying arms to Azerbaijan. "The war in Artsakh broke out because many OSCE-member countries were indifferent and ignored the Karabakh people's right.
As for Ilham Aliyev's refusal to meet with Serzh Sargsyan at the last minute, Manvel Sargsyan says he doesn't know how accurate that information is.
The political scientist asks why Serzh Sargsyan gave his consent to the declaration of the co-chairing countries which is not in Armenia's interests. "Without any hope of coming to terms with Azerbaijan in terms of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement, Serzh Sargsyan is already giving consent and legitimizing the proposed principles. The Madrid Principles are very delicate and the NKR doesn't accept them."
Manvel Sargsyan is certain that President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev will not follow the declaration made in Astana after he contradicted the document in his speech immediately following the declaration.
According to the political scientist, today the OSCE Summit should not only be viewed from the angle of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, but it should also be viewed by taking into consideration a number of circumstances. "The essence of that structure is the principle of territorial integrity, which doesn't allow 56 countries to come to terms. If the member countries are not able to adopt the final document due to that, it goes to say that the end has come for the organization. From this angle, we should ask ourselves whether it was worth making a declaration on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict or not."
Manvel Sargsyan is certain that neither Serzh Sargsyan nor Ilham Aliyev want to take steps toward solving the conflict.
