Vahram Soghomonyan: Europe risks being misunderstood in Artsakh

PanARMENIAN.Net - Political analyst Vahram Soghomonyan said in Berlin that Europe risks being misunderstood in Artsakh, with not establishing direct ties with Artsakh and not promoting its democratic development.

Democratic forces of Artsakh may face a crisis, if Europe does not participate in the country’s democratic processes, Soghomonyan said during discussion of the book, entitled: “Solutions for Artsakh, Self-Determination and Recognition.”

According to him, if there are certain problems in the diplomatic and political fields, EU’s participation in humanitarian and cultural programs of Artsakh will hamper nothing.

Co-author of the book, Director of the European Academy, Berlin, Professor Eckhart Stratenschulte and German political analysts discussed specifically EU’s role in the Karabakh conflict settlement. Referring to the European Neighborhood Policy, Stratenschulte said that the program has a potential for implementation also in Artsakh.

“Europe cannot impose its solution on the parties to the conflict, however people live also in Artsakh and all programs should not bypass this country,” he said.

Former director of the German Orient Institute Udo Steinbach stated for his part that all suggestions for the conflict settlement have failed, questioning the format efficiency and principles selected for the conflict resolution.

Vahram Soghomonyan noted that the document adopted on December 1 as part of the OSCE summit is among such suggestions. According to him, it is explained by the fact that none of formal documents can at once eliminate the atmosphere of mistrust existing between the societies of Artsakh and Azerbaijan.