BAKU DOES NOT SAY A DECISIVE "NO" TO THE MEDIATORS
Tatul Hakobyan
"Radiolur"
07.07.2006 15:22
On June 22 the mediators actually disclosed the details of settlement
of the Karabakh conflict – the principles presented at the OSCE
Permanent Council, which the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan
discussed in Bucharest. If the revelation of the document was meant
to provide a topic of dispute and discussion, then the anticipations
of the mediators did not come true, since the societies in Armenia
and Karabakh, and particularly in Azerbaijan the societies responded
without spirit. This was, surely, a surprise if we consider the
importance the resolution of the Karabakh issue has in the three
countries.
Two weeks have passed after the disclosure of the last suggestions
or, let’s say so, the basic principles. However, it’s not clear up
to now whether Baku accepts these as a basis for negotiations. As
far as the parties involved in the conflict have not said a firm
"yes," it is hard to anticipate that a healthy discussion, dialogue
or criticism will start among the society.
Official Yerevan has confirmed at least thrice that the latest
suggestions of the mediators are acceptable for the Armenian side
with some reservations.
Still on June 21, i.e. before revelation of the principles, President
Kocharyan clearly stated in Minsk that Yerevan accepts the mediators’
suggestions.
A few days ago RA Minister of Foreign Affairs Vardan Oskanyan stated,
"The suggestions put on the negotiations table today are generally
acceptable for Armenia, and we are ready to continue the talks based on
these principles, which, I think are all-embracing and rather balanced
and it seems that a correct choice has been made in regard to mutual
concessions." Nagorno-Karabakh authorities declared yesterday that
the latest suggestions could serve as a basis for talks, of course
with some reservations.
On the other hand, NKR Parliament Speaker Ashot Gulyan underlined
yesterday that not all of the suggestions are acceptable for Armenia
and Nagorno-Karabakh.
Nevertheless, it’s not clear whether Baku is admitting the Co-Chair’s
suggestions or not. From RA Foreign Minister’s words one can infer
that for the recurrent time Azerbaijan is denying these.
"We hope that Azerbaijan will reassess the situation, will create an
opportunity to continue the talks and achieve results," Oskanyan said.
Probably, Azerbaijan has no distinct position on the latest
suggestions. One thing is clear: Baku does not accept these, but does
not want to say that it is denying the mediator’s suggestions as a
basis of negotiations. Perhaps that’s why Aliev is saying one thing,
the Foreign Ministry is stating another thing, and the Ministry of
Defense is making quite a different point.
Studying the Azeri media reports, we can say that the point on
referendum is particularly unacceptable for Baku. It deserves attention
that in the course of the recent months have been consistently refuting
that the version of referendum cannot be discussed during the talks. It
comes out, however, that compared with all other previous suggestions
of the mediators, the only novelty in the last package is just the
idea of referendum.
Thus, political scientist, ex-Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Russia
Hickmet Hajizade expressed the opinion that inclusion of the
referendum in he framework agreement is a serious defeat for
Azerbaijani diplomacy.
"Even if the leadership of Azerbaijan manages to refuse from concluding
a peace treaty, the referendum issue will be included in all other
peace agreements on settlement," Hajizade said.
A few days ago another famous political scientist Zardust Alizade
also said in his interview with "Radiolur" that what is unacceptable
for Azerbaijan is the issue of referendum, the rest is the repetition
of the old.
"Nothing new has been said. Actually, everything was known to the
Azeri society, first of all from Armenian media. The statement
of the Co-Chairs brought about discontent and another wave of
comments. Azerbaijan cannot agree with the idea of the referendum, if
it is to be held only in Nagorno-Karabakh or among Karabakh Armenians,
since this contradicts the Constitution of the country. Therefore, to
make the Azeri society go to a referendum, it is first of all necessary
to hold another nationwide referendum to amend the Constitution in
force. Today it seems unbelievable that the Azeri society will agree
to that," Alizade noted.
