March 23, 2002 - 18:59 AMT
ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTER SPEAKS ABOUT RIGHTS OF ARMENIANS OF NAGORNO KARABAKH AT UNO COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS MEETING
«We urge Turkey to get over our past in order to have a region that we had for centuries- the crossroad, gates and Eden garden. History and geography are stable values», Armenian foreign minister Vardan Oskanian stated, while speaking at the meeting of the UNO Commission on human rights for the first time. He expressed his hope that Armenia would establish friendly relations with Turkey preferring a hope for bright future to unforgiving opinion about the past». Stressing the importance of having stability in the South Caucasus, Vardanian spoke about the rights of Armenians living in Nagorno Karabakh. «Being realists, we urge official Baku to accept that Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh will become citizens of Azerbaijan against their will», noted the minister. At the same time the Armenian foreign minister urged the international community to assist in the achievement of fair and stable peace in the region «taking into consideration the current situation and the historic reasons explaining the current situation», RA MFA press service reported.