ARMENIA MAY REVIEW KARABAKH POLICY – PRESIDENT
Public TV
March 31 2008
Armenia
The presidents of Armenia and Artsakh [Nagornyy Karabakh]
have discussed cooperation in Stepanakert. Robert Kocharyan and
Bako Sahakyan spoke about socio-economic issues and the future
of the Karabakh settlement. President Robert Kocharyan also met
representatives of the legislative and executive branches of power
in Artsakh. [Correspondent] Narine Aghabalyan will have details
from Stepanakert.
[Correspondent] The incumbent Armenian president, Robert Kocharyan,
and [his wife] Mrs Bella Kocharyan were met by NKR [Nagornyy Karabakh
republic] president Bako Sahakyan and his wife, as well as National
Assembly [parliament] speaker Ashot Ghulyan, prime minister Ara
Harutyunyan and other members of the Artsakh government at the
Stepanakert airport. Kocharyan was invited to make his extraordinary
and final visit to Karabakh as Armenian president by the Artsakh
leader. President Bako Sahakyan conveyed the NKR authorities’ and
people’s gratitude to Kocharyan for the long years of joint work as
well as for organizing the defence and security of Artsakh in the
years crucial for the country, and for contributing to the economic
development of Artsakh and Armenia.
[NKR president Bako Sahakyan] We are sure that no matter what you will
be busy with in the future you will contribute to the development of
our two countries.
[Correspondent] Sahakyan bestowed the Grigor Lusavorich order on
Kocharyan for his exceptional services to NKR. Kocharyan described
as symbolic the meeting which was held in the hall where Nagornyy
Karabakh’s independence was declared on 2 September 1991. Issues of
the Artsakh economy and statehood were discussed at the meeting.
Kocharyan said that progress was obvious in Artsakh. He pointed
to the clear formulation and implementation of priorities for the
future development.
[Armenian President Robert Kocharyan] It would be desirable for those
changes to be carried out more actively and that they be more visible
for the people here but we all need to work more actively. It is clear
that the local resources are limited and without serious financial
injection it would be difficult for Karabakh to ensure necessary
development rates alone.
[Correspondent] How will the negotiations on the Karabakh settlement
continue? Kocharyan discussed future actions with the NKR president
and foreign minister.
[Kocharyan] In the future, there will be discussions in Armenia too,
and I think a new situation is emerging. Some things are changing
in the world, there is the Kosovo precedent, there are Azerbaijan’s
efforts to take the negotiations process out of the OSCE framework to
the United Nations, there are bellicose statements, which simply force
the Republic of Armenia and the Nagornyy Karabakh republic to make
certain corrections to their approaches related to both the Karabakh
security and the final status of the Nagornyy Karabakh republic.
[Correspondent] Speaking about the political situation in the Republic
of Armenia, Kocharyan pointed to the main conclusion: there is a need
to reinforce the statehood bases of the Republic of Armenia.
[Kocharyan] There already are legislative proposals in regard to
resolving those issues. It is my belief that attempts to drive a
wedge between the Armenian people should become criminally punishable.
[Correspondent] Kocharyan will not remain indifferent to the issues
the two Armenian states are facing after stepping down from office.
[Kocharyan] The final issue does not have a settlement. There are
still challenges before our people, and we all have to work for the
final recognition of the Nagornyy Karabakh republic.
[Correspondent] After the meeting, Kocharyan and Sahakyan walked
through the streets of Stepanakert.