Irish model offers no solution to Karabakh conflict – politician
TERT.AM
13:03 – 16.06.12
The Irish precedent cannot offer any solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict, says Armen Melikyan, a former foreign minister of the
Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) Republic.
The diplomat made the statement in connection with OSCE
Chairperson-in-Office, Irish Foreign Minister Eamon Gilmore’s recent
call for applying his country’s experience to the Karabakh settlement
process.
`If I am not mistaken, they told a story on how Ireland gained
independence from the UK, leaving its eastern part to Britain. In all
likelihood, they are drawing parallels in an attempt to say that
Armenia is an independent state so there would be nothing strange if
Artsakh remained under the Azerbaijani hegemony,’ he told Tert.am.
The precedent, according to Melikyan, is that the intercommunity
problems between the Irish Catholics and Roman Protestants eventually
find a certain solution in the country which forms part of Great
Britain.
The politician characterized the Irish model as a kind of `pilot
program’ aimed at creating an impression that the process is not going
round in a circle.
`It is several years they have been attempting to bring the program to
life, choosing different names,’ he said, adding that the plan is far
from realistic. `That will leave the problem unresolved because there
are real criteria allowing us to settle the problem by establishing a
long-term peace. But there are alien interests which seek to resolve
the problem to their benefit.’
Melikyan noted that the Turks and Azerbaijanis are dreaming to see the
problem considered in the light of international reconciliation
context.
`If my analysis is not right, I am hopeful the OSCE
chairperson-in-office will have something new to say. Or probably,
there is a plan related to Northern Ireland, which they haven’t
unveiled so far and are now going to voice it in connection with the
Artsakh issue,’ he added.
Melikyan said the intercommunity reconciliation between the two
religious groups in Northern Ireland has nothing to do with the
Karabakh conflict, and is hence unacceptable to Armenia.
The OSCE official made the call for applying to Irish precedent to
Karabakh at a recent meeting with the Azerbaijani parliament speaker,
Bahar Muradova.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Disclaimer: This article was contributed and translated into English by Emil Lazarian. While we strive for quality, the views and accuracy of the content remain the responsibility of the contributor. Please verify all facts independently before reposting or citing.
Direct link to this article: https://www.armenianclub.com/2012/06/17/irish-model-offers-no-solution-to-karabakh-conflict-politician/
