«A STRANGE SLAP IN THE FACE OF ARMENIA»
Anna Israelian
Aravot.am
28 June 06
The former Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Armenia about the NK
conflict settlement.
After the unprecedented step of the OSCE Minsk group American
cochairman Mathew Brayza, which declassified some details of the
negotiations, we turned to the former Minister of Foreign Affairs of
Armenia Vahan Papazian for interpretation. We got the same answer,
which we had already heard as the answer to our request for interview
after Robert Kocharian and Ilham Aliev meeting in Bucharest. That is,
he won’t say anything new besides what he has already said in his
interview given to our newspaper in 2000 and he insists on his
remarks. Vahan Papazian said in 2000 that it was impossible in
principle to get better results than we could conceivably have in
1997. «I’m not sure that nowadays political leadership is
sincerely anxious for the settlement of this conflict. Certainly,
they can declare that they do their best, look, we negotiate, discuss
versions and when we come to a conclusion, we’ll produce it to the
political powers and public and will hold a referendum necessarily
etc. But there isn’t any certain agreement, and they can negotiate for
many years.’ A comparison was published in «Aravot» 6
years ago, which showed how Robert Kocharian’s and Levon
Ter-Petrosian’s approaches round the NK conflict settlement had become
too close. Vahan Papazian also noticed that similarity; « And
it is natural. In general, I mark the end of 1997 and beginning of
1998 as a greatest nonsense in the political life of our country. For
not being understood wrong, I must stress that it was irreversible
nonsense. We missed the opportunity of settling the NK conflict by
dignified peace. Even the common diplomat knows that we must go for
concessions from the strong position. Our positions were stronger in
1997. It seems to me that if there is a political settlement, Armenia,
in particularly Karabakh, won’t have decisive vote any more. The word
«If» in this affirmation is very essential».
Another Former Minister of Armenia Alexander Arzumanian spoke about
Mathew Brayza’s interview in the «Pastark» club
mentioning that he saw «nothing strange’ in declassification of
proposals. In his opinion, the meaning of Brayza’ s interview is;
«that we have already proposed and the presidents of the
countries must be brave to explain this to their people. And they try
to involve the public into dispute, which is indeed a natural
process. If you remember, Levon Ter-Petrosian’s proposal of dispute
led to the changeover of political powers in time. Now a proposal of
dispute is made again».
To the «Azatutiun» b/s question whether Robert Kocharian
would be invited to Washington Mathew Brayza answered; «There
is no reason for Robert Kocharian not to visit Washington. I hope that
we can see in Armenia the same positive steps of democratic reforms as
we see in Azerbaijan». Alexander Arzumanian mentioned on this
occasion; «It is strange when the official of middle section
allows himself to tell Armenia; go and reach to the level of
Azerbaijan then we’ll invite your president. It is a strange slap. I
have spoken for many times, that there isn’t democracy in Armenia, but
saying democracy, I have never mean to be compared with Azerbaijan or
Belarus’.
Speaking on Brayza’s detections to the RA MFA replies, the former
Foreign Minister has said that it simply showed the weakness of our
Foreign Ministry. The MFA wanted by that declaration to remove doubts
but it deepened them, showing that they negotiate today about
territories of the NK security zone, about withdrawal of military
forces from all territories. `What does Karabakh get? To hold a
referendum? That people have already made their decision. This
authority has come to power just for that reason, to settle the
problems of the NK conflict and re-annexation with Armenia. Please,
settle it’, – Alexander Arzumanian recorded the failure of `triumphal’
and `no piece of land’ policy.