Arman Melikian: in political terms Armenia needs radical changes

March 16, 2010 - 17:07 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Recently the Karabakh conflict settlement intensified due to external factors, NKR ex-minister of foreign affairs Arman Melikyan told a news conference in Yerevan.

According to Melikyan, since 2008 the Armenian authorities have not adopted a new policy on the Karabakh conflict and the negotiations continued the same way, like during the previous two presidents.

"Proposals of OSCE Minsk Group contradict to our national interests," Melikyan said. He characterized as interesting the statements by certain political figures during the past two-three weeks on the matter of occupied Armenian territories of Shahumyan, Martuni and Martakert by Azerbaijan. According to him, it is too late and useless to speak about these areas. "As long as Armenia is perceived as "aggressor" by international community, these territories will be regarded as Azerbaijani," Melikyan stressed, noting that he has always advocated for the recognition of Karabakh's independence within existing borders with Shaumyan and Getashen.

Referring to the statements of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Special Representative on Nagorno Karabakh Goran Lennmarker, that Karabakh’s participation in Nagorno Karabakh talks is not necessarily since the president of Armenia, native of Karabakh, is able to represent Karabakh’s interests in negotiations, Melikyan said Karabakh’s involvement is probably not beneficial to Lennmarker.

According to Melikyan, Armenia is under Europe’s pressure, frequent visits of European officials demonstrate it. The armed conflict between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan broke out in 1998, as result of the ethnic cleansing the latter launched in the final years of the Soviet Union. The Karabakh War was fought from 1991 (when the Nagorno Karabakh Republic was proclaimed) to 1994 (when a ceasefire was sealed by Armenia, NKR and Azerbaijan). Most of Nagorno Karabakh and a security zone consisting of 7 regions is now under control of NKR defense army. Armenia and Azerbaijan are holding peace talks mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group up till now.

The conflict between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan

The conflict between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan broke out as result of the ethnic cleansing launched by the Azeri authorities in the final years of the Soviet Union. The Karabakh War was fought from 1991 (when the Nagorno Karabakh Republic was proclaimed) to 1994 (when a ceasefire was sealed by Armenia, NKR and Azerbaijan). Most of Nagorno Karabakh and a security zone consisting of 7 regions are now under control of NKR defense army. Armenia and Azerbaijan are holding peace talks mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group up till now.