SERZH SARGSYAN: NEW DIVIDING LINES IN THE CAUCASUS ARE DANGEROUS
armradio.am
11.11.2008 15:33
The President of Armenia, Mr. Serzh Sargsyan, gave an interview to the
German Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. The full text of the interview
is presented below:
Question: Mr. President, last week in Moscow you came to an agreement
with the President of Azerbaijan on the settlement of the Karabakh
conflict, a conflict which has long kept strained the relations
between the two countries. How will it develop today?
Answer: It was important for us that we signed a document,
which rules out the military solution to the conflict. Sure,
this was just a declaration, while we would be very glad to have a
treaty. Nevertheless, I don’t want to undermine the importance of the
document. I’m glad that we signed a document with Azerbaijan, which
accepts all principles of conflict resolution of international law,
and not only the principle of territorial integrity. I positively
assess the fact that despite the recent sharp criticism of the
effectiveness of the Minsk Group activity, the document emphasizes
the role of the Co-Chair countries – Russia, the United States and
France – as mediators.
Question: Are you ready to withdraw your troops from the seven regions
adjunct to Nagorno Karabakh as required?
Answer: The core issue of the conflict is the status of Nagorno
Karabakh.
Azerbaijan should recognize the right of the people of Nagorno
Karabakh to self-determination. The solution of this main issue may
be followed by the solution of other issues. For us the control of
those territories is not an end in itself. It is aimed at ensuring
the security of Karabakh. Today we need to negotiate the principles
of settlement, which may be followed by the main peace treaty. We
still have a long way to pass.
Question: You are from Karabakh. Can Karabakh remain as an autonomous
region within Azerbaijan?
Answer: The question is about creating conditions that would allow
ensuring the further safe development of the population. History has
shown that it is impossible within Azerbaijan. We have never thought
that Karabakh can remain within Azerbaijan in any status.
Question: You visited Brussels recently. Can the EU be useful in
solving the conflict?
Answer: Europe should clearly indicate if one of the parties deviates
from the way and distorts the peaceful nature of the process. Besides,
if any international organization stresses the importance of one
principle of conflict resolution, it encourages the actions of
that country in that direction and demonstrates a non-constructive
approach. The United States and several European countries applied
the principle of the right of peoples to self-determination in case
of Kosovo, but when Russia did the same, it was rejected by the United
States and Europe.
Question: But you have not recognized the independence of South
Ossetia and Abkhazia, either.
Answer: You are right. As it is known we have not recognized the
independence of Kosovo, either. We have no right to recognize the
independence of those countries until we recognize the independence
of Nagorno Karabakh. Our people will not understand the step. Now you
will ask me why, in that case, we do not recognize the independence
of Karabakh. We think that the recognition of independence is the
last step. We are not that strong to unilaterally recognize the
independence of Karabakh and consider the process completed.
Question: What were the geopolitical consequences of the Georgian
war for Armenia?
Answer: The events showed how vulnerable the region is. Georgia is
extremely important to us, since 70% of our trade passes through
that country.
Simultaneously, we are strategic partners with Russia. It was important
for us to coordinate these two responsibilities, which I think, we
managed to do. Georgia and Armenia have different approaches towards
different principled issues; however, we managed to avoid that all,
which could be viewed as hostility. And despite the numerous changes
in the region as a result of the war, I can say the Armenian-Georgian
and the Armenian-Russian relations did not suffers because of it.
Question: You are also a member of NATO’s partnership program. Does
it mean that the lesson drawn from the war is that the Alliance should
stay away from the Caucasus?
Answer: I would not approve your choice of words. In that case the
development of our relations with NATO would be impossible. We consider
that the cooperation with the Alliance is a component of our security
system. On the other hand, we do not aspire to join NATO. Drawing
new dividing lines in the region could be very dangerous. This was
the lesson learnt from the Georgia war
Question: Should your neighbors suspend their efforts of joining NATO?
Answer: I cannot speak on behalf of other countries. Over the past
ten years we have been aspiring to implement a balanced policy that
would correspond to the interests of the United States, Russia and
NATO. Deriving benefits from the discrepancy of those forces could
be tempting, but at the same time, it is very dangerous.
Question: Recently you invited the Turkish President to Armenia to
watch a football match. The whole world welcomed your initiative. Today
the Turks propose establishing a commission of historians to probe
into the Armenian Genocide of 1915. Would it be beneficial?
Answer: I see absolutely no necessity of it. We do not think
that we would manage to reach something this way. We wish to
establish diplomatic relations between the two countries without
any preconditions, open the border. Then we will be able to solve
the questions between the neighbor countries on the level of an
intergovernmental process. We do not view the recognition of the
Armenian Genocide by Turkey as precondition for the establishment
of relations. We want it, but not at any cost. European countries
did not establish commissions of historians for developing normal
relations. Such a step would mean an attempt to mislead the
international community.
Question: Could Armenia become a transit energy route to Europe
like Georgia?
Answer: I don’t think we should aspire to substitute someone. But
it’s certain that we want to have developed infrastructures, create
alternative routes of supply. We would like our communication
with Azerbaijan and Turkey to be reopened. We want to construct a
north-south railway, which will later link Armenia to Iran. The more
developed and diverse our infrastructures are, the more attractive
and safer Armenia will be.