ROBERT KOCHARIAN: FORMULA OF OVERCOMING DISAGREEMENTS IS “THROUGH COOPERATION TO THE SETTLEMENT, THROUGH COMMUNICATION TO A BIGGER TRUST”
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
June 05 2006
BUCHAREST, JUNE 5, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On June 5, RA
President Robert Kocharian made a speech at the Black Sea Forum for
Dialogue and Partnership in Bucharest. In his speech provided to
Noyan Tapan from the President’s Press Service, Robert Kocharian,
in particular, said: “Countries of the Black Sea region have rich
and at the same time dramatic history of co-existence.
The Black Sea has always been a center of strategic interest. This lead
to many devastating wars that have formed its current political map,
ethnic and religious diversity. However, this all has also resulted in
substantial interrelation of our cultures and traditions. Partially
that is why there are so many similarities in the process of
transformation underway in our countries.
This is true in case with the internal transformation, aimed at
deepening of democracy and transparency of the society. This also
influences the shaping of new types of foreign interactions in the
context of the changing world. We are present at the formation of
new dynamic processes, changing the region, forming new perceptions
about it. Two objective questions come across: how possible is
a common direction of development of the region? Will this lead
to the formation of the new regional identity, based on a common
interest and inherited cultural interaction? Our Forum is called to
address these challenging issues. We shall first evaluate the level
of motivation in each country of the region. Secondly, we shall
work out approaches increasing our mutual will for partnership. For
Armenia, with limited natural resources and emphasized entrepreneurial
mentality of the people, the choice was clear. Transformation for us
primarily meant the liberalization of economy, open trade regimes,
and a competitive environment. These reforms substantially changed
the structure of Armenian economy. Today over 85 per cent of GDP is
produced in private sector, with over 40 per cent of it being produced
in small and medium businesses.
Annual growth of GDP during last five years has averaged at above
12 per cent. It is natural, that we watch openness and regional
cooperation as the most effective way for our development. Only lazy
people do not speak about benefits of regional cooperation. It is an
axiom, which however comes across many obstacles, which are often of
a subjective nature. There is a need for pragmatic evaluation of the
positive and negative realities. Let us first assess what unites us:
Commitment to a common system of values and readiness to play along the
same rules. Obvious, tangible economic benefit of regional integration
processes. Common challenges and threats to the stability and security
caused by the increasing transnational crime, extremism and terrorism.
Meanwhile, we are divided by: Unresolved ethnic conflicts, Certain
deficit of trust, caused by the negative experiences of the history
of the region. I am confident that we shall concentrate on those
elements which unite us. We shall take steps to harmonize our reforms,
achieve unification of trade regimes and transportation tariffs. There
is a need for joint investment projects in the infrastructures of
the region. First of all, for energy and transportation projects,
covering the entire Black Sea basin, and increasing its economic
attractiveness. This will create favorable environment for resolution
of existing conflicts. Through cooperation to the settlement,
through communication to a bigger trust, that is the best formula
for overcoming the controversies, based on a search for a common
interest. In this context we are ready to continue dialogue with
Azerbaijan for the settlement of the Nagorno Karabagh conflict and
with Turkey on establishing relations without any preconditions. I
would like to briefly touch upon the Nagorno Karabagh conflict and
our vision for its settlement. The people of Nagorno Karabagh have
implemented in practice the right for self-determination. It was done
fully in line with the requirements of international law. Results of
the referendum on independence were later defended in the war forced
on that people. These events developed in the timeframe of global
changes, related to the collapse of the Soviet Empire. That situation
is classical for cases of self-determination through secesion. Now
for fifteen years Nagorno Karabagh Republic continues to prove its
right for independence by own achievements in effective statecraft. A
whole generation grew up there, which watches itself as possessors
and defenders of that statehood. We believe that there is a need for
effective efforts for a full-scale integration of the Republic in the
international society. We have an organization, the BSEC, which is the
platform for exploration of the economic potential of our region. I
am confident this Forum and the Declaration we intend to adopt will
become a good stimulus for BSEC’s further activities. They are called
to signal the existence of political will at the highest level for
furthering our partnership. In conclusion, I would like to once again
thank the organizers of the Forum. I hope it will contribute towards
strengthening stability, security and cooperation in the Black Sea
region.”