Armenia is Done with Compromises, Says Presidential Aide

Armenia is Done with Compromises, Says Presidential Aide

asbarez
Thursday, June 30th, 2011

Garnik Isagulyan

YEREVAN (Combined Sources) – Armenia has already made all the
compromises possible in talks with Azerbaijan and there are no plans
for new ones, said presidential aide Garnik Isagulyan at a press
conference Thursday.

`The meeting in Kazan proved that the position of the Armenian
President on Karabakh issue is firm, and it is senseless to expect
unilateral concessions from Armenia,’ said Isagulyan.

He explained that the compromises already made by Armenia, as the
winning side of the war, are not being comprehended by Azerbaijan,
which continues to put forth new demands and amendments to the peace
principles. He also said that Azerbaijan’s delay tactics are useless.

`We made compromises before 1995 and in 1998, and it would not be
right to make compromises today and expect Azerbaijan to change its
position,’ said Isagulyan.

`Now we need to demonstrate to the international community that
Armenia is not about to make any more compromises, since none of the
ones that have been made have softened Azerbaijan’s position or its
military rhetoric,’ added Isagulyan.

Isagulyan enumerated what he said were major compromises already made
by Armenia, among them Armenia refraining from recognizing the
independence of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and not including the
people of Karabakh in Armenian elections, despite the fact that in
Soviet times Karabakh was represented by 11 representatives in
Armenia’s Supreme Council.

The main elements Isagulyan emphasized were Karabakh’s not being
involved in the negotiation process and having Armenia represent its
interests.

Isagoulian said without Karabakh’s participation, the negotiations
become symbolic. He stressed that the most important issue in the
talks is determining Karabakh’s status.

`All meetings, talks and visits will be of advisory character unless
Nagorno Karabakh becomes party to the talks. Karabakh must return to
the bargaining table as a full party to the talks,’ he said.

Isagulyan said the since the collapse of the Soviet Union, Azerbaijan
has received more military than Armenia, Georgia and Nagorno-Karabakh
combined

`Azerbaijan had 458 tanks, 1264 armored cars, 395 units of artillery,
63 rockets, 53 military and 52 training planes before 1993 unlike
Armenia, but Armenia won the war,’ he explained.

In discussing Azerbaijan’s increased military spending, Isagulyan
stressed it does not mean anything, as weapons are not the most
important thing in a war.

`If Azerbaijan resorts to military operations, it will mourn the loss
of new territories,’ he emphasized.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress