Kocharyan pictured, but didn’t say
According to Head of the Bureau for the Armenian Cause and Political Affairs Kiro Manoyan, if the authorities continue the same policy on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, it means that time is not on Armenia's side.
While Kiro Manoyan is speaking about Armenia strengthening its positions, just recently Serzh Sargsyan announced once again that he accepts that the liberated territories are Azerbaijani lands under Armenia's control.
"Serzh Sargsyan made that announcement even when he wasn't the primary figure of the country and we criticized that. We still say this is not a way to negotiate. In fact, we have already handed something in exchange for nothing. If I was an Azerbaijani, I would wait to see what else I can get. Unfortunately, this wasn't only Serzh Sargsyan's approach. The former president didn't make this announcement and simply made it clear that this was how he pictured it," said Mr. Manoyan.
Manoyan believes that it is time for the Armenian authorities to stop thinking about getting on the international community's good side when it comes to foreign policy issues like the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and Armenian-Turkish relations and that "they should try to solve issues in essence."
Manoyan says the process of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resolution has reached a point after which the negotiations are meaningless without the NKR's participation. "The games that the Co-Chairs are playing when they say they didn't go to Stepanakert due to the weather should be put to an end. The Armenian authorities should say there is no sense in continuing the negotiations like this. On the other hand, they need to undertake initiatives to ensure the international recognition of Artsakh."
Unlike the Armenian authorities, the ARF finds that Armenia's recognition of the NKR's independence will not impede the talks. Kiro Manoyan doesn't share Serzh Sargsyan's view that Azerbaijan will initiate military operations if Armenia recognizes the NKR's independence.
"It will be too late for that. Armenia should have a different approach during a war. We have to unite and put an end to this. The NKR's independence must be recognized if the talks fail. We shouldn't wait for a war."
Kiro Manoyan has no expectations from the upcoming meetings of the Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents. He also refused to speak about how the ARF will be participating in the upcoming parliamentary and presidential elections.
