ARMENIAN PRESIDENT CAUTIOUS ABOUT KARABAKH SETTLEMENT PROSPECTS – AIDE

Mediamax news agency
13 Aug 07

Yerevan, 13 August: Armenian president’s spokesman Viktor Soghomonyan
said today in the interview with Mediamax that "Armenian president’s
optimism regarding the perspectives of Karabakh settlement has become
even more cautious".

The president’s spokesman said this commenting at Mediamax’s request
on the current stage of the settlement and the statements of official
Baku that the process has reached a deadlock.

"It is difficult to give a definite assessment of the current stage
of talks. I would refrain from sharp definitions, especially as
the assessments of the negotiating sides regarding the process are,
as a rule, subjective.

At the same time, the facts show that the talks have not given any
results yet. For the Armenian side the reasons of such situation are
clear. It is the nonconstructive position of the Azerbaijani side
carried away by the illusion that it is possible to turn time back,
rewrite the history and return to the situation of 1988. The existence
of the Nagornyy Karabakh republic is a fait accompli, and it can’t
be a matter of haggling.

"That’s why, taking into account the nonconstructivity of the
Azerbaijani side, the Armenian president has repeatedly stated that his
optimism concerning the success of the talks was rather cautious. I
am afraid that today this optimism has become even more cautious,"
Viktor Soghomonyan said.

Commenting at Mediamax’s request on the Azerbaijani president’s recent
statements that the "Armenian side is insincere, tries to drag on
time and deceives the mediators" and "if the Armenian side gives up
the policy of occupation, the relations between Yerevan and Baku will
normalize, and Armenia will get more cooperating with Azerbaijan than
from foreign pittance," Viktor Soghomonyan said:

"Unfortunately, Mr. Aliyev had enough political will and courage
only to make another tactless statement. I will not comment on these
opuses in particular, I will only say that there are people who
think about Armenians and the future of Armenia and Nagornyy Karabakh
republic. Mr. Aliyev has better think about his own concerns".