Kazimirov: High Time to Recognize Karabakh Fate as Cause of Conflict
Russian President's Representative for Nagorno Karabakh, head of the Russian mediating mission in 1992-96, participant in cease-fire establishment formality on May 12, 1994, deputy chair of the Association of Russian Diplomats Vladimir Kazimirov addressed an open letter to the Armenian and Azerbaijani non-governmental organizations. The statements says in part, "Over a dozen of years ago with Russia's mediation mass blood-shed was stopped in Karabakh. The violent conflict was frozen in the condition of "neither peace nor war" what damages greatly both peoples, impedes social, economic and democratic development of the states. This is the most painful problem for all the parties to conflict. Episodic meetings of the Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders have not brought obvious results. Today the election passions in both states are over but the major problem remains. This is the excessively tough position of the parties to conflict. 11 years is more than enough for holding purposeful and serious negotiations. People have the right to demand results. Both nations have not overcome the narcotic influence of false-patriotic claims yet although the unsettlement of the conflict brings more damage than eventual concessions. To stop the battles in 1994 "parties of peace" were needed; presently we need parties of realism and flexibility. Members of non-governmental organizations do not "cling to their seats." They are far-sighted and initiative people. They do wait for changes for the better but approach them.
The NGOs can say that Azeris and Armenians will have to live if not together by near each other. Certainly, it is better to have neighbor relations than live in hostility. Just they can expand the field for political maneuvers and balanced concessions.
It's high time to recognize the fate of Nagorno Karabakh as the cause of the conflict. This is an irrefutable fact and its acknowledgement would become the first move towards mutual concessions and civilized resolution of the problem. Presently there are no other forces to call for the strategic aim - the historical reconciliation on the two nations.
People's democracy in its nature is not getting on with tension, occupation, arms race and force atavisms. Staking on force is primordially defective. We live in a century with other values, these being democracy, tolerance, contacts, flexibility and compromise. The dispute over Karabakh should proceed from the battlefield to bargaining table and a compromise would become a step towards civilization.
The international community, UN, OSCE, CIS and all men of sense support establishment and expansion of contacts between Armenians and Azeris. Other approach has no future. Any contacts are useful, including the meetings abroad and in Russia, sometimes with the assistance of the Armenian and Azerbaijani Diasporas.
The slippages of the Nagorno Karabakh settlement demand activity of people's democracy. Joint efforts should inspire the second wind to the talks in 2006 and show the way to precise agreements.
The NGOs can say that Azeris and Armenians will have to live if not together by near each other. Certainly, it is better to have neighbor relations than live in hostility. Just they can expand the field for political maneuvers and balanced concessions.
It's high time to recognize the fate of Nagorno Karabakh as the cause of the conflict. This is an irrefutable fact and its acknowledgement would become the first move towards mutual concessions and civilized resolution of the problem. Presently there are no other forces to call for the strategic aim - the historical reconciliation on the two nations.
People's democracy in its nature is not getting on with tension, occupation, arms race and force atavisms. Staking on force is primordially defective. We live in a century with other values, these being democracy, tolerance, contacts, flexibility and compromise. The dispute over Karabakh should proceed from the battlefield to bargaining table and a compromise would become a step towards civilization.
The international community, UN, OSCE, CIS and all men of sense support establishment and expansion of contacts between Armenians and Azeris. Other approach has no future. Any contacts are useful, including the meetings abroad and in Russia, sometimes with the assistance of the Armenian and Azerbaijani Diasporas.
The slippages of the Nagorno Karabakh settlement demand activity of people's democracy. Joint efforts should inspire the second wind to the talks in 2006 and show the way to precise agreements.
