“IF WE RETURN LIBERATED TERRITORIES TO AZERBAIJAN, IT WILL TAKE KARABAKH WITH BLITZKRIEG.” ARMEN MARTIROSYAN
May 13 2014
Today, with regard to the 20th anniversary of the ceasefire concluded
between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs
disseminated a statement. In the conversation with Aravot.am,
vice-president of “Heritage” party Armen Martirosyan commented on
the statement as follows, “The co-chairs actually fully confirmed
Warlick’s words. It is clear that Warlick would not say these 6
elements. He has said what was in the document. There is just one
problem, Warlick with his statement counterbalanced to Russia’s recent
actions and statements, Russia’s Ambassador’s statement that it will
not allow anyone to breach the the status quo unilaterally on the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. For example, in the Crimea and eastern
Ukraine, we see that despite the agreements, today, the Crimea is in
the composition of Russia due to its active efforts. Such situation
occurs in Ukraine. This shows that it would not allow Russia to carry
out such operations in Karabakh. In this regard, Warlick’s statement
is balancing for Armenia and beneficial.” According to Mr.
Martirosyan, it is unacceptable when the co-chairs are talking
about the liberated territories. “No one can give a guarantee that by
arriving of peacekeeping forces to liberated territories, what position
the same peacekeeping forces will take tomorrow. Peacekeeping forces
are not going to stay forever, but after they left, Azerbaijan will be
in a very advantageous position, and no one can give a guarantee that
after this comprehensive agreement, when the liberated territories
will be returned to Azerbaijan, it would not take the whole Karabakh
with blitzkrieg. It is very easy to reach it through this narrow
corridor.” In his speech, the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair James Warlick
opened the brackets by saying that the corridor, which will connect
Armenia with Nagorno-Karabakh, should have sufficient width to ensure a
safe transition, but it cannot cover the entire Lachin region. As said
by Armen Martirosyan, “Probably, they meant at the maximum of 22-23 km
wide. In any case, if Azerbaijan opens a fire onto this corridor from
both sides, in one minute this corridor will be blocked and it will
not be technically difficult to occupy NKR in terms of military. But
now, in the case of these liberated territories, we are the very
guarantors to maintain this security, which is most important. Such
good strategic positions are the cause that we were able to maintain
the peace until now. I do not think that Azerbaijan has not declared
war only under the international agreements. I have the belief that
Azerbaijan had not conducted war because it knows that it definitely
cannot get even a meter of land back as a result of this war, moreover,
it may appear in a poorer condition. Therefore, for security reasons,
these liberated territories, in fact, are necessary to us to keep
the peace. In addition, these territories are the result of the war
unleashed by Azerbaijan. Very many people of us have fallen to victim
to this war.
It has not given to us as a gift. Finally, our partners talking
about the guarantees first of all would be good to be able to call
the Sevres Treaty to life, and we would see that the international
treaties have the force to come to life in the case of Armenia. Let
them ensure the return of due land to Armenia by the Treaty of Sevres.
But, as it is clear that the politics and reality are on different
dimensions, the return of those liberated territories is totally
unacceptable to us.” Mr. Martirosyan finds that the return of liberated
territories will bring thousands of problems with it.
“Peacekeeping forces task is also dangerous, because we do not know
what peacekeeping forces they are, what is their goal, and whether
they cannot provoke military clashes here in favor of Azerbaijan.
That’s why it’s a very dangerous provision. The refugees issue is
another problem. Which refugees are we talking about? What rights
are they going to have? Will they be able to retrieve their belongings?
All Azerbaijanis have left Armenia by exchanging their houses or
selling their properties. But the Armenians in Azerbaijan had simply
left their untold riches and escaped. Now will they be able to ensure
the restoration of their property? This is also a problem. It is clear
that the document, the Madrid principles, and the OSCE co-chairs’
recent statement have many drawbacks. The solution to the problem is
completely on a different dimension, in the reforms in Armenia, in
keeping the population of Armenia in its homeland. The land liberated
by the blood and life of our brothers gives us the very opportunities
that we are able to maintain our security and vital interests with
much more relaxed and fewer resources.”
Hripsime JEBEJYAN
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From: Baghdasarian