ARMENIAN MINISTER SAYS KARABAKH SETTLEMENT HINGES ON AZERI CONCESSIONS
Noyan Tapan news agency
14 Mar 06
Yerevan, 14 March: Armenia cannot sit idle while Azerbaijan is
making official statements that if it does not get what it wants
at negotiations it will make no concessions and get what it wants
militarily, Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan has told
the Azg newspaper website, commenting on the Armenian president’s
statement that should the negotiations fail, Armenia will recognize
the independence of Artsakh [Nagornyy Karabakh].
“Azerbaijan must understand that if Armenia sees that Azerbaijan
has made a conclusion like this, Armenia will also take steps which
may have negative consequences for Azerbaijan – from recognizing
Karabakh to drawing up a new defence doctrine which will permanently
put Azerbaijan on the defensive,” Oskanyan said.
Asked about “the criteria for the failure of the negotiations”,
Oskanyan said: “Today the negotiations are at a stage when Azerbaijan’s
position will be crucial, i.e. we can start making decisions only after
we know whether Azerbaijan is ready for concessions. If Azerbaijan
does not make a concession on the issue discussed at Rambouillet,
it will mean that Azerbaijan continues to stick to its maximalist
position, which will not resolve the problem.
Therefore, the main criterion depends on Azerbaijan.”
Asked about what this step [recognition of independence] would give
Armenia and Artsakh, Oskanyan said: “The recognition, of course,
is a political instrument, which I think will be used on time, and
the president meant precisely this. If you remember, the president
said clearly in his interview – when Azerbaijan finally decides to
resolve the problem militarily, Armenia will reserve the right to
make changes both in the political and defence spheres.”