July 21, 2006 - 15:16 AMT
Karabakh: Agreement on General Principles Possible in 2006
The situation over settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict in 2006 is different from that in 1997, before the resignation of Armenian first President Levon Ter-Petrosyan, Head of Hay Dat Office, ARF Dashnaktsutyun Bureau Responsible for Foreign Policy Affairs Kiro Manoyan stated in Yerevan. In his words, when Levon Ter-Petrosyan said that opportunities of 1997 will not repeat, he meant a totally different thing. "I believe that the first President meant that Armenia will not have to choose, as at that time. In 2006 some form of an agreement on general principles is possible at best. However, inadequate conduct of Azerbaijan will bring to naught all efforts of the mediators and the international community," Manoyan said.

At that he underscored that in case of attaining an agreement between the Armenian and Azeri President on the security zone around NKR, not fitting the interests of the Armenian people, the ARFD will appeal to the state leader for explanations «in accordance with the law.»

Speaking about the idea of changing the format of the talks, which issues from Azerbaijan, the ARF Dashnaktsutyun Bureau member stressed, that is merely a desire of official Baku, which is not a decisive one in this issue. "The format of the OSCE MG for settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict remains still. At least for the near future," he remarked.