Oskanian Called Not to Boost Optimism about Karabakh Conflict Settlement
One should not boost optimism about the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement, Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian stated in an interview with the Second Armenian TV Channel. In his words, progress was really fixed in 2005. "This should not be denied. The two meetings of the president yielded positive results being supplemented by the Prague negotiations between the FMs. There is progress but it's not complete," the Minister said. It depends on the fact whether the Presidents will continue the process or will Baku make a backward step again, he added. According to Vartan Oskanian such experience already exists. He cited two examples. "The first refers to the recent act of vandalism against the Armenian Khachkars in Nakhichevan. The Armenian party is greatly concerned over this fact, since it conflicts with the positive atmosphere created in the Karabakh process," he said also mentioning of Ilham Aliyev's refusal "to reconsider the history of the presence of Armenians in the regions, including Karabakh."
"All this proves there is space for a backward step. Will Azerbaijan keep on demonstrating the positive tendency that emerged in 2005?" the Minister noted adding that a good fundament has been really laid. "Our position is unchangeable. We wish the problem to be resolved as soon as possible. Everyone should comprehend that this issue may be settled on the basis of compromise only. All the parties to conflict should wish to affix signature to the agreement. Public opinion should be also developed," the Minister stressed. In his words, the situation should not be tensed and hostile manifestations reduced. The Minister rated 2006 as the year of possibilities over the absence of electoral processes in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Karabakh. "This will allow to lower the politicization of the issue. On the other hand we should not think we are forced to settle the issue in 2006. The process has its logic and we precisely know the path we follow. If the process is positive we can approach the resolution in 2006. However the decision should not be imposed. There are favorable conditions for the Karabakh conflict settlement and we should work in this direction," the RA FM stated.
"All this proves there is space for a backward step. Will Azerbaijan keep on demonstrating the positive tendency that emerged in 2005?" the Minister noted adding that a good fundament has been really laid. "Our position is unchangeable. We wish the problem to be resolved as soon as possible. Everyone should comprehend that this issue may be settled on the basis of compromise only. All the parties to conflict should wish to affix signature to the agreement. Public opinion should be also developed," the Minister stressed. In his words, the situation should not be tensed and hostile manifestations reduced. The Minister rated 2006 as the year of possibilities over the absence of electoral processes in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Karabakh. "This will allow to lower the politicization of the issue. On the other hand we should not think we are forced to settle the issue in 2006. The process has its logic and we precisely know the path we follow. If the process is positive we can approach the resolution in 2006. However the decision should not be imposed. There are favorable conditions for the Karabakh conflict settlement and we should work in this direction," the RA FM stated.
