Trilateral presidential meeting in St. Petersburg brought Karabakh discussions to forefront

PanARMENIAN.Net - Head of Heritage parliamentary group Stepan Safaryan has said that the party is preparing a letter to NATO PA President to demand explanation concerning Azerbaijan’s recent announcement that the Karabakh process may be discussed in the structure. Another letter regarding Azerbaijan’s anti-Armenian propaganda will be addressed to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. “Besides, Heritage party will develop a resolution condemning Azerbaijan’s armament race,” Safaryan said.

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Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan signed the bill on introduction of amendments to the Armenian Electoral Code, which was earlier approved by the parliament. Besides, the he signed into law the parliamentary bills on introducing changes to the Armenian Laws on Prosecutor’s Office and on Special Investigative Service.

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Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan received UN Special Rapporteur on situation of human rights defenders Margaret Sekaggya. During the meeting, Mr. Sargsyan highly appreciated Armenia’s cooperation with the UN structures. Besides, human rights protection in Armenia was in the focus of the meeting. The Armenian Prime Minister attached importance to application of international experience in Armenia and the UN office’s contribution to it, the press service of the RA government reported. UN Resident Coordinator/UNDP Resident Representative in Armenia Dafina Gercheva also participated in the meeting.

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The Armenian Center for National and International Studies (ACNIS) convened “An Assessment of the Regional Balance of Power: Presentations on Defense Reform and Civil-Military Relations in Turkey, Azerbaijan, Georgia and the Broader Region” presentation on June 16. “Armenia is the only country in the region which is aspired to maintain peace and stability, which becomes more and more shaky,” ACNIS Director Richard Giragosian said in his remarks. “With Azerbaijan and Georgia unsatisfied with the current status quo, Armenia acts as the defensive force,” he said. Mr. Giragosian drew attention to the fact that the balance of forces in the region is changing and did not rule out that these changes will favor Azerbaijan. At the same time, he emphasized that the army reorganization in Azerbaijan is unnoticeable, since the country’s Defense Ministry is a corrupt authority. “Azerbaijani Defense Minister Safar Abiyev has been holding the post the longest time in the international history (besides Cuba’s Raul Castro) and his military experience is limited to watching action movies only,” Mr. Giragosian said. He also emphasized that, the power of the army is determined not by its number but by quality in Armenia. The expert reminded of the disorder in the Azeri army, pointing out to the increasing number of suicides. “Even if Azerbaijan decides to launch military reform right now, it can reach the level of the Armenian army in some 8 or 9 years,” Mr. Giragosian said. In conclusion, he said that the weak and unpredictable Azeri army is more dangerous for Armenia, as there is a threat of an unplanned war.

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Armenian Foreign Ministry needs personnel reshuffle, this referring both to the Yerevan office and diplomatic outposts throughout the globe, according to head of the ARF Dashnaktsutyun parliamentary group Vahan Hovhannisyan. “No changes have occurred in the system since the Armenian National Movement rule,” he said. “True, while performing their diplomatic mission, our ambassadors are experiencing difficulties due to various reasons, but this does not justify their failures,” Mr. Hovhannisyan said. Commenting of the ARFD statements on the necessity of change of power in Armenia, he noted that for the revival of Armenia’s domestic life should take place through regular elections.

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The Armenian National Movement (ANM) administrative board accepted the resignation of board chairman Ararat Zurabyan. ANM executive secretary Vahagn Hayotsyan will assume the responsibility of coordinating administrative board work, with Ararat Zurabyan retaining board membership.

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RA National Picture Gallery hosted presentation of the collection of scientific and practical comments to RA Constitution. Presenting the collection of scientific and practical comments to RA Constitution, RA Constitutional Court Chairman Gagik Harutyunyan emphasized the importance of the book. “The book may serve as the first step towards increasing comprehensibility of Armenian laws, also furthering development and reformation of legal awareness among Armenian public. The book released in 2000 copies will be distributed among public authorities.” As Gagik Harutyunyan stressed, constitutionality in Armenia not up to standard. “There’s certain contradiction between the constitution and current realities, which should be eliminated by state policy. Otherwise, supremacy of constitution will be a mere abstraction,” RA Constitutional Court Chairman concluded.

* Early elections will take place in Armenia very soon, according to Armenian National Congress representative Vahagn Khachatryan. “Any process in Armenia can lead to change of power, as the authorities do not enjoy popular confidence and the living conditions in the republic are unfavorable,” he said, refraining, however, to mention any terms. “Processes can be fomented both outside and inside the country. In the first case, it will happen due to failures of the foreign policy, and in the second case because of the deteriorating social life,” he said.

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St. Petersburg hosted trilateral meeting between Armenian, Russian, and Azerbaijani Presidents, which was preceded and followed by a number of comments and predictions. The status of NKR is the key issue in the negotiation process, chairman of European Integration NGO Karen Bekaryan said. “The Azerbaijani society seems to have come to understand this. The same is about the OSCE Minsk Group,” he said. “With NKR status undetermined, Armenia has nothing to discuss with Azerbaijan,” he emphasized. As to the forthcoming meeting between the Armenian, Azerbaijani and Russian Presidents in St. Petersburg, Mr. Bekaryan said it will hardly be fruitful.

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Member of the Republican Party of Armenia parliamentary group Karen Avagyan said that the consistency of meetings between the Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders means progress in Karabakh talks. “Armenia’s position is gradually becoming clearer,” he said. For his part, member of the same parliamentary group Artak Zakaryan commented on bellicose rhetoric of the Azerbaijani leadership. “Azerbaijan’s warlike statements do not mean that this country is ready to launch hostilities. However, we should be ready for any scenario. In my opinion, the region will not destabilize if sanctions against Iran are applied. Azerbaijan will not dare venture an attack against Nagorno Karabakh, with superpowers keeping a watchful eye on the region,” Zakaryan concluded.

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The meeting between the Armenian, Russian and Azerbaijani Presidents in St. Petersburg proves that the OSCE Minsk Group has given green light to development of separate sub-processes to fix some progress in Karabakh talks, expert Alexander Manasyan said. “Ilham Aliyev’s presence at the meeting was a result of pressure by the international community, which clearly indicated unwillingness to tolerate attempts to undermine Karabakh peace process by ongoing warlike rhetoric,” he said. “Upon return to Baku, Aliyev will try to justify himself ascribing to Armenian President and OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs statements which were never made,” he emphasized. “The fact that Aliyev has quitted the International Economic Forum means that the atmosphere in the trilateral meeting made him upset.” As to Madrid Principles, Manasyan said that these are just a basis for talks but Armenia is not obliged to accept them. “The revised document doesn’t exist as such. The Principles have not changed since 2007, as matter of fact,” he said. Manasyan stated that Azerbaijan will recognize the status of NKR as an independent state sooner or later but Armenia should not pin hopes on this.

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Karabakh process is complicated and lingering, so it would be naïve to wait for a quick resolution, Armenian political analyst Sergey Minasyan said. At the same time, he emphasized that the trilateral presidential meeting in St. Petersburg has excluded any possibility of Turkey’s engagement in talks. “Azerbaijani political elite is confident that time works to their detriment. Moreover, following the publications of the Azeri media, we can see a shadow of disappointment,” Minasyan said. “Ilham Aliyev’s refusal to participate in the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum means that Azerbaijan faces a serious problem. Meanwhile, continuation of talks is to some extent a victory for the Armenian diplomacy.”

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Russia, in the capacity of OSCE MG Co-Chair plays an important role in Karabakh conflict settlement process, Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian stated. Summing up the results of trilateral Sargsyan-Medvedev-Aliyev meeting in St. Petersburg, the Minister characterized it as continuation of previous negotiations. “Dmitry Medvedev’s participation in meetings promotes approximation of parties’ positions and progress in negotiations,” he said, adding that meetings with Co-Chairs are also expected. Dwelling on Madrid Principles issue, Minister Nalbandian stated them to be the only document on Karabakh issue since 2007. “All the other Karabakh-related suggestions carried merely working character,” he stated.