June 13, 2006 - 14:20 AMT
Alexander Iskandaryan: Restoration of Shushi More Important than Bucharest Talks
I am not apt to consider that conflicts can be settled via normalization of economic cooperation. Nothing can be settled by money only, Director of the Caucasus Media Institute (CMI), political scientist Alexander Iskandaryan stated in an interview with PanARMENIAN.Net. In his words, this doesn't mean that economy should not be taken into account. "If funds flow to the conflict region the sides may spend them on weapons. This way has no prospects," he considers.

Alexander Iskandaryan noted that as regards the Nagorno Karabakh problem the society should be interested in other issues as well. "In other words, people should decide what is more important: the Bucharest talks or restoration of Shushi. Certainly, the restoration of Shushi is. I would add that juridical settlement of conflicts is counterproductive. Let us take Taiwan for example. They do not shout or press for recognition. They do not demand independence but live and form their state. We should determine what is more important: independence or state building. In my opinion, state building is more important, since it includes political mechanisms, formation of institutes of a civic society, democracy building and many other aspects," the CMI Director said.

  • Full text of the interview