The
councilor of the RA President Garnik Isagulian interprets the breaches of the
cease-fire in the Azerbaijan – Nagorno Karabakh contact zone. –
Cease-fire has become a recurrent phenomenon. What consequences can this situation
have on the process of peaceful settlement of the Karabakh conflict?- We must
stress unambiguously that there haven’t recorded any incident of breaching cease-fire
by the Armenian side. As regards to the Azerbaijani side then they declare that
in case of unwanted settlement of the conflict they can open hostilities. It is
clear that these are overstatements and don’t correspond to nowadays balance of
powers. The Azerbaijanis know very well that the correlation of powers isn’t profitable
for them. But the instigation by the Azerbaijani side still continues from the
beginning of March and unfortunately there are victims and wounded people from
both sides. This is a great pain; the life of each soldier is worthy for us. On
the other hand the problem refers to the defense of the homeland and we are ready
for it. Every time our forces have given answers to the attacks of the Azerbaijani
side and haven’t made concessions yet.- So what do those proclamations and
activities pursue?- To our deep assurance the Azerbaijani authorities turn
to these activities for changing the direction of the solution. As the suggested
versions round Minsk group lead to recognizing NK as a de-facto state.- Anyway
they fire at the borders and there are victims and wounded people. Can this mean
that the hostilities have been opened at the border?- Unambiguously no, as
we are sure that they will fail. Unfortunately all instigation is directed to
Aghdam. In all probability the Azerbaijani side turns to reconnaissance but we’ll
call them to stop it, as a mission has visited the occupied territories and its
reports are going to be made soon. If they are informed about the preliminary
version of those reports and know that these aren’t profitable for them and if
they have understood that their activities in international scene are being failed
then it doesn’t give them any right to reopen the hostilities in that region.
It is possible that the Azerbaijani side tries to show that the situation in the
region is disturbing and reopening of the hostility is quite possible trying to
change the decision of the Minsk group.- But it is obvious that the negotiations
are failed by the efforts of the Armenian side. Does this mean that opening hostilities
is profitable for the authorities of both countries?- I can say unambiguously
that there weren’t any decision of failing the process by the Armenian side. We
have always been ready for the negotiations and if Azerbaijan itself sees any
problem in the processes it is its problem.- If the hostilities in the border
liven up what steps will the Armenian side take?- The position of the Armenian
side is known. It is the conformation of the NK self-determination. It is fact
that NK has never been the part of Azerbaijan and it can’t. It has been said clearly,
we have shown the limit from which we consider important the negotiations with
the Azerbaijani side.- If the hostilities reopen won’t it mean that R.Kocharian’s
negotiations were in vain and meaningless? That means we return to that point
where 98 ended.- I wouldn’t say, because the policy that NK is an independent
country has been adopted since 1998. The Armenian authorities haven’t led any
negotiation process to deadlock; they haven’t tried to ignore it. We must take
into consideration the exist situation till 94. And asking for one-sided concession
from Armenia isn’t right by international community or Azerbaijani authority.
The Armenian authorities haven’t got and don’t have any wish to make concessions.
We don’t want concessions without real guarantees of safety of Karabakh people
and without recognizing the NK independence and self-determination. I repeat NK
has never been the part of Azerbaijan and this will be the main direction of our
carried out policy.Margaret Yesayan
