OPPORTUNITIES ARE LIMITED BUT
Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
07 Feb 05
â~@~The format of negotiations has been deformed therefore several
other problems of the conflict are discussed at a plane which is far
from the reality,â~@~] said NKR foreign minister Arman Melikian
during the press conference on February 4. In reference to the
possibility of withdrawal of troops from the territory of Karabakh
the minister emphasized that Karabakh does not participate in the
negotiations and he cannot comment on the official statements of
Azerbaijani officials on this matter. At the same time he noticed
that the information circulated by the Azerbaijani side about the
withdrawal of the â~@~occupantâ~@~] forces from NKR can be evaluated
as the willingness of Azerbaijan to recognize the independence of
Karabakh. The reason for all the problems is building the
negotiations on the attempts of Azerbaijan to accuse Armenia of
aggression. â~@~We see the negotiations at the level of negotiations
between Azerbaijan and Karabakh,â~@~] said the minister. The NKR
foreign minister mentioned that in implementing its foreign policy
Karabakh must take into account the present reality but we must not
forget that we also have interests and we must be able to defend
them. Answering the question of entitling Armenia to the prerogative
of the negotiation process the minister pointed out that it is the
fault of the international organizations and not Armenia that
Karabakh was left out of the process. After all, the format of
negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan resulted in Key West and
Parisian meetings, during which promises of settlement of the process
were made. Therefore the format can hardly be regarded as
anti-effective. At the same time, Arman Melikian emphasized that
without the participation of Karabakh the negotiation process is
impossible. The PACE resolution adopted by the results of David
Atkinsonâ~@~Ys report supposes a flow of funds to the region for
maintaining an atmosphere of trust, development of the mass media and
the public sector. Will these investments be directly made in
Karabakh? Was the text of the resolution extended to the NKR
authorities at all? In answer to these questions Arman Melikian
mentioned that Karabakh does not have direct relationships with the
PACE. â~@~They work with Armenia and Azerbaijan, and the documents
do not get to us directly. I do not think this is normal,â~@~] said
the minister. THE MONITORING GROUP IMPLEMENTS A TECHNICAL MISSION The
OSCE mission in Karabakh is checking the information of Azerbaijan
about the policy of re-settlement of the territories controlled by
Nagorni Karabakh implemented by Armenia. According to the NKR foreign
minister, Karabakh is pleased with the activity of the group. Arman
Melikian reminded that in the past few years Karabakh has requested
the international organizations to send a monitoring group to
Karabakh to check the innumerable accusations of Azerbaijan. However,
the suggestions of Karabakh were ignored. Evidently the possibilities
of the foreign policy of Karabakh are limited. Moreover, the same
organizations willingly responded to the same suggestion, this time
made by Azerbaijan. In answer to the claims of the journalists on the
partiality of the monitoring group A. Melikian mentioned that the
group is fulfilling a technical mission and actually it cannot be
partial. Political conclusions can be biased. In reference to the
accusation of the NKR newspaper â~@~Demoâ~@~] against the NKR
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Arman Melikian said that part of the
facts given by the authors are true. The other part of the
accusations is absurd. Nevertheless, the minister commended the mass
media which can speak out freely. â~@~It is evident that the authors
of the publications are really disturbed by the situation of the
countryâ~@~Ys foreign policy,â~@~] said Arman Melikian. He emphasized
that the seat of the foreign minister of Karabakh remains in
Stepanakert but if necessary the minister can stay in Yerevan and
abroad as long as it is needed. Speaking about the plans of the
foreign ministry, Arman Melikian pointed out that the ministry
undertook a number of legislative bills which will enable to solve
many problems. Particularly he mentioned the law â~@~On NKR
Citizenshipâ~@~] which will clarify the possibilities of dual
citizenship, the protection of NKR citizens irrespective of their
nationality, the responsibility for the fate of the citizens
displaced from Azerbaijan. According to the law, citizenship will be
granted not only to people born in the Autonomous Region of Nagorni
Karabakh but also in the territory of the proclaimed Republic of
Nagorni Karabakh. Two other draft laws refer to diplomatic and
consular service. After the adoption of the laws the citizens of
Karabakh leaving the country can make all the necessary arrangements
in Karabakh. The minister mentioned the necessity of coordination of
the work of the foreign ministry and its information service. At the
same time he emphasized that he is for determined and precise policy
and not outrageous propaganda. ATKINSONâ~@~YS OPINION IS NOT
EUROPEâ~@~YS OPINION After the adoption of the resolution in the PACE
David Atkinson mentioned in his interview to BBC that the most
desired solution of the Karabakh conflict would be the recognition of
Karabakh by Azerbaijan. But it is obvious that Azerbaijan would not
do it, therefore, according to Atkinson, Europe cannot recognize the
right of Karabakh for self-determination. Answering the question
whether this means that Karabakh admits the opinion of the PACE, the
minister emphasized that Atkinsonâ~@~Ys opinion is not the opinion of
Europe. Europe, the USA and Russia have their interests and speak
according to their interests, and we must admit similar statements
calmly, said the minister. EYNULLA FATULAEV TO VISIT KARABAKH ON
FEBRUARY 10 Eynulla Fatulaev, Azerbaijani journalist, wishes to visit
Karabakh and in this connection she applied to the NKR authorities.
She will arrive in Nagorni Karabakh on February 10 and will meet with
officials, representatives of public organizations and the mass
media. â~@~In the absence of relationships between Armenia and
Azerbaijan I consider this an expression of goodwill on the part of
the NKR authorities, as well as in providing the assistance to the
OSCE monitoring mission,â~@~] said Arman Melikian.
NAIRA HAYRUMIAN.
07-02-2005
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