European diplomat:Armenian President must not be idle
15:49 / 12/07/2009
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan must not be idle and remain content with the status quo of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Despite the internal pressure, he must take specific steps and make certain concessions, a high-ranking European diplomat told NEWS.am.
Armenia is a complicated situation now, faced with the issue of vacating the seven regions forming the security zone round Nagorno-Karabakh. The diplomat pointed out President Sargsyan’s rather favorable domestic political positions, which enables him to push through an unpopular decision if necessary. Serzh Sargsyan has a parliamentary majority supporting him. On the other hand, a rather strong opposition political force, Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF), is active in Armenia, which, however, will not be able to oppose the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) led by the Armenian President, the source said.
As regards the other Opposition force, Armenian National Congress (ANC), which is not represented in Parliament, it is inclined to compromises over Nagorno-Karabakh even more than others. The ANC leader and Armenia’s first president Levon Ter-Petrosyan resigned in 1998 only because he was unable to oppose the Karabakh lobby and push unpopular decisions through to resolve the problem, the diplomat said. He stressed that, for political reasons, the ANC will, of course, be critical of the President and incumbent authorities should they resort to concessions. Speaking of the Armenia-Turkey normalization process, and of its possible impact on the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process, the diplomat pointed out that the normalization may either facilitate the settlement or aggravate the situation.
The European diplomat expressed his special discontent with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s bellicose statements. He stressed that they have a most negative impact on the negotiations. The diplomat pointed out that the United States and Turkey should pressure Azerbaijan about the matter. Azerbaijan is unlikely to resume hostilities in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone. Georgia’s bitter experience is a good lesson for all states, he said. The international community will not allow any destabilization in the region – the G8 declaration entitles the European states to influence the process at the highest level. The diplomat welcomed the fact that even after the Azeri President’s aggressive statements, the Armenian leader agreed to take part in the Munich meeting. Another positive fact is that Azerbaijan does not any longer insist in the conflict being settled on the territorial integrity principle, the source said.
He stressed that the following three issues are on the agenda now: vacating the security zone round Nagorno-Karabakh; ensuring land communication between Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh; determining the interim status of Nagorno-Karabakh, which will contain prerequisites for its final status. The diplomat said that the negotiation process is most likely to be an extended one, as the Presidents are not ready for specific unpopular steps. However, the OSCE Minsk Group cannot carry the burden of an unsettled conflict for ever, and the European Union may share the responsibility for the settlement soon, he said.
Armenia is a complicated situation now, faced with the issue of vacating the seven regions forming the security zone round Nagorno-Karabakh. The diplomat pointed out President Sargsyan’s rather favorable domestic political positions, which enables him to push through an unpopular decision if necessary. Serzh Sargsyan has a parliamentary majority supporting him. On the other hand, a rather strong opposition political force, Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF), is active in Armenia, which, however, will not be able to oppose the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) led by the Armenian President, the source said.
As regards the other Opposition force, Armenian National Congress (ANC), which is not represented in Parliament, it is inclined to compromises over Nagorno-Karabakh even more than others. The ANC leader and Armenia’s first president Levon Ter-Petrosyan resigned in 1998 only because he was unable to oppose the Karabakh lobby and push unpopular decisions through to resolve the problem, the diplomat said. He stressed that, for political reasons, the ANC will, of course, be critical of the President and incumbent authorities should they resort to concessions. Speaking of the Armenia-Turkey normalization process, and of its possible impact on the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process, the diplomat pointed out that the normalization may either facilitate the settlement or aggravate the situation.
The European diplomat expressed his special discontent with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s bellicose statements. He stressed that they have a most negative impact on the negotiations. The diplomat pointed out that the United States and Turkey should pressure Azerbaijan about the matter. Azerbaijan is unlikely to resume hostilities in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone. Georgia’s bitter experience is a good lesson for all states, he said. The international community will not allow any destabilization in the region – the G8 declaration entitles the European states to influence the process at the highest level. The diplomat welcomed the fact that even after the Azeri President’s aggressive statements, the Armenian leader agreed to take part in the Munich meeting. Another positive fact is that Azerbaijan does not any longer insist in the conflict being settled on the territorial integrity principle, the source said.
He stressed that the following three issues are on the agenda now: vacating the security zone round Nagorno-Karabakh; ensuring land communication between Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh; determining the interim status of Nagorno-Karabakh, which will contain prerequisites for its final status. The diplomat said that the negotiation process is most likely to be an extended one, as the Presidents are not ready for specific unpopular steps. However, the OSCE Minsk Group cannot carry the burden of an unsettled conflict for ever, and the European Union may share the responsibility for the settlement soon, he said.
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