"PEACE TALKS WITHOUT KARABAKH ARE INEFFECTIVE"
KarabakhOpen
10-06-2008 13:33:29
Interview with the NKR President Bako Sahakyan
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic is de facto the most stable among the
unrecognized countries of the CIS, postures as an independent side
of the conflict and insists on direct talks with Azerbaijan, said the
president of NKR Bako Sahakyan in an interview with the correspondent
of RBK Daily Victor Yadukh.
Are Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh ready to discuss the issue of
the status quo of certain liberated territories which are outside
the administrative borders of the former Soviet autonomy of
Nagorno-Karabakh?
Armenia is an independent country. It negotiates with Azerbaijan
proceeding from its independence and interests. However, there
is the main side of the conflict, the independent Republic of
Nagorno-Karabakh. From the point of view of the same priorities of
Azerbaijan, Armenia and other independent states. We and Armenia are
integrated, we have a common economic sphere, common currency. It does
not affect our independence. We respect the opinion of our people who
declared themselves independent, adopted the Constitution last year,
we honor the attributes of our government. And before expressing our
stance from the point of view of one issue or another, we must have
the possibility to participate in the talks.
Are you for three-party talks or for separate talks NKR-Azerbaijan
and Armenia-Azerbaijan?
We do not focus on the number of participants of the talks. But as
long as Azerbaijan does not negotiate with us, all the other formats
will be ineffective.
What is your attitude to the military preparation of Azerbaijan and
the statements on the inevitability of a new war?
Militarization and the militaristic rhetoric of Azerbaijan have no
psychological influence on us. The use of force will cause innumerable
victims on both sides but will not resolve the Karabakh issue. First
of all, the balance of forces in the region is effective. Second,
the armed force of our country is able to counter to the aggression
of Azerbaijan. In case of necessity, the military actions will move
deep into its territory. In case of aggression we will act so because
enlarging the area of security will be the only way of guaranteeing
peace for our people.
In Yerevan statements on the possibility of territorial compromise
in the talks for Karabakh were made.
With the current behavior of Azerbaijan the notion of compromise
becomes impossible. We are convinced of one thing – the issue cannot
be solved unilaterally. The point is whether Azerbaijan honors the
right of Nagorno-Karabakh for self-determination. For the time being,
Azerbaijan regularly makes threats to our country, they threaten to
raze us to the ground, Karabakh and the people of Karabakh. In such
conditions, the notion of compromise itself is unacceptable.
Azerbaijan considers the possibility of joint use of the corridor of
Lachin which connects Karabakh and Armenia, on the condition that it
will be an indivisible part of Azerbaijan. What is your attitude to
such proposals?
Azerbaijan has not offered such requests or proposals to
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. I would like to note that without
the current strategic importance of the region of Kashatagh the
administrative center of which is Berdzor (former Lachin – RBK Daily)
it will be impossible to guarantee the security and progressive
development of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic as an independent state.
Do you think the return of Azerbaijani refugees to Nagorno-Karabakh
is possible?
The government of our country does not rule out the return of the
Azerbaijani refugees to Karabakh. However, we are convinced that before
the political solution of the issue it is impossible. Thoughtless
actions may lead this contingent of refugees to other tragic
consequences. It is also necessary to synchronize the issue of the
Azerbaijani refugees with the issue of the Armenian refugees. Today,
however, it is viewed unilaterally.
Naturally, it does not satisfy us.
In Azerbaijan they say the government of NKR has settled 25 thousand
people in Lachin and Kelbadjar and 30 percent of settlers have
allegedly left those regions. What is happening there in reality? What
is the demographic policy of NKR in the liberated territories?
The majority of the population of these regions is refugees from the
region of Shahumyan of NKR, North Artsakh, as well as different parts
of former Soviet Azerbaijan. They lost everything and settled down
here, returned to normal life. Refugees and internally displaced
persons are one of the most vulnerable layers of the society, and
the attitude toward them is special, independent from where they live.
Is the Kosovo model of recognition of independence acceptable for you?
>From the legal point of view, the international recognition of Kosovo
is a precedent. We do not link directly the recognition of independence
of Kosovo and the recognition of independence of Karabakh. However,
if the recognition of Kosovo may help the recognition of Karabakh,
we will certainly welcome.
In NKR the signs of a social state are obvious, which are not
typical of the post-Soviet space: benefits to mothers and newlyweds,
subsidy for mortgage loan, considerable assignments to education and
health. How does the NKR government dare to make such expenditure in
such a complicated political and economic situation?
Article 1.1 of our Constitution notes that Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
is a sovereign, democratic, legal and social state. And one of the
best indices of a social state is socially secure citizens. So we
are implementing what the basic law of our country requires.
What is your attitude to the market where the NKR economy and its
main partners are developing?
Quite normal. The world practice showed that market economy and social
state are interdependent categories. The existence and continuous
development of the social sphere has a positive effect on the rate
of growth of the economy. The more socially secure people are, the
more optimistic about future they are.
The people of Karabakh often speak about the mental and psychological
difference from most compatriots in Armenia. According to you, Karabakh
owes to the "genetic component of people" for stability and security.
What do you mean?
Our people are normally law-abiding, assiduous and optimistic. These
qualities have considerable influence on the stability and security
of our state.
What is your expectation from Russia? Are we satisfied with the role
which it has in the OSCE Minsk Group?
In the fragile world in which we live Russia has a great contribution,
especially in the first stage of signing of the agreement. Naturally
we want and we do not hide it that Russia plays a great influence on
the settlement and our conflict and other similar conflicts. Because
Russia also bears historical responsibility for what is happening in
the region. However, it is a global problem, and such countries as
the United States, France, England are also responsible for what is
happening in the South Caucasus. In addition, they naturally pursue
their interests, which I think is also normal.
In your opinion, are the degrees of responsibility of Russia, the
United States and France for the fate of the region comparable?
Today they can be comparable but the degree of historical
responsibility of Russia is more than that of the United States of
America. Because when we had relations with Russia, the United States
did not exist yet.