Which is Armenia’s first step in the NKR conflict resolution?
According to HAK (Armenian National Congress) international relations committee member Vladimir Karapetyan, in all issues, as well as the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, there is one step that the Armenian authorities should take and that is to strengthen their positions.
"They have to solve current issues in Armenia. They have to release the political prisoners, restore liberties and respect human rights. Only in that situation will the authorities be able to act freely in the international arena by receiving some support from citizens of Armenia. The result of today's absurd situation is the pro-Turkish Turkey-Armenia Protocols," Mr. Karapetyan told "A1+".
Karapetyan says it is possible to register progress in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resolution in 2011 and for that conclusion, he accepts as a basis the Armenian authorities' policy in 2010, which he views as negative.
"Armenia wasn't able to ensure favorable conditions for strengthening Armenia's and NKR's positions in diplomacy last year. Armenia adopted numerous international documents which have weakened the country's positions in the negotiations."
Karapetyan deemed it necessary to remind the authorities that issues related to international relations are not solved overnight and, according to him, Azerbaijan realizes that.
"Taking advantage of Turkey's unreserved support, Azerbaijan will continue to pressure the Armenian side, try to become active in the international arena and place new documents into circulation and Armenia must be able to confront those serious challenges."
Vladimir Karapetyan has no expectations from the upcoming visit of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office to Armenia and Azerbaijan. "This is merely a cognitive visit. It is nonsensical to expect any development, especially taking into consideration that in terms of content, the Co-Chair countries are involved in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resolution and not the OSCE Chairman."
As far as former head of the PACE Political Affairs Committee Goran Lindblad's announcement according to which he will continue to support Azerbaijan in terms of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Vladimir Karapetyan said:
"I wouldn't like to see Armenia turn this issue into a huge factor. Lindbland has lost his mandate as a PACE delegate and will be involved in the issue as an individual. In the meantime, I think we need to work with each individual who takes on obligations or the initiative to get involved in issues of Armenia's concern. We must not allow unilateral viewpoints."
Unlike other political figures, Vladimir Karapetyan doesn't link the domestic situation in Armenia with foreign challenges. On the contrary, he says Armenia can strengthen its positions in the international arena only after establishing democracy in the country.
