We
spoke to the deputy of the RAP, the president of "Veda Alco" company
Manvel Ghazarian as a defender who took part in the liberation of Shushi and
other hostilities.-How do you refer to the approach "territories instead
of peace"?-I have observed the solution of this problem not as a businessman
but as a former soldier, a man who has lost a lot of friends, who has seen a lot
of families without fathers, invalids of the war, mothers who have lost their
sons and at least Erablur. I must mention that first of all the society must be
ready for the concessions. Let’s remember the events of 1997 and the article of
our first president Levon Ter-Petrosian. I have always thought that he mustn’t
write such an article, he must take every step as the President of the country.
And public men, intellectuals or the representatives of other strata might write
articles about the necessity of mutual concessions instead of him.- But for
writing such an article your mentioned figures didn’t have a certain idea about
the process of negotiation, existed dangers the first President warned about.-
There were several people who were informed, weren’t they? Or some of them could
be informed about it. And the idea of mutual concessions must be put into the
consciousness of the society. Instead of offering alternative – war or peace and
he threatened his presidential position.- But nowadays both the Minister of
Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Defense repeat some positions of Levon Ter-Petrosian’s
article. And even the member of ARF bureau is for stage by stage settlement stressing
that the status of Nagorno-Karabakh must be settled in the first stage. How do
you interpret this reality?- We have come to power with slogans not to give
back the territories or making concessions. We must do everything to prevent our
achievements. And we must assure the people that what was acquired by the blood
of the patriots must be saved. I don’t see other solution.- But now I must
ask you a question as a businessman. Doesn’t the unsettled situation of Karabkh
conflict influence on your activities? And isn’t it visible that the settlement
of the conflict by mutual concessions is necessary for the economy of Armenia?-
It is a fact that we don’t have appropriate communicative ways for contacts with
abroad. It’s also a fact that our economy suffers from it. As a businessman I
feel it every time. For example Moldova can spend 700-1000$ for sending drinks
to Moscow but we must spend 4-5 times more. We mustn’t confuse national dignity
and values; our most important strategic problem is with economical interests.
If we think of mutual concessions we "break" a big and principle barrier
after which mutual concessions can be constant. Why Turkey which is a powerful
and big country doesn’t want to concede anything and doesn’t agree to negotiate
with Armenia without making terms and it even doesn’t recognize Armenia as a state.-
The President of Azerbaijan also declared that Baku could allow no concession
in case of Karabakh conflict. Later he declared that war between Azerbaijan and
Armenia was possible at any moment. As against to this propaganda our Minister
of Defense made declarations about mutual concessions. But maybe these are addressed
to the outside world or some preparations for the presidential elections.-
The rules of policy allow expressing such ideas for proving something to the international
community as if we are ready for mutual concessions but our neighbor isn’t. Or
maybe it is addressed to those parts of our people who are for the idea of mutual
concessions. Those ideas aren’t acceptable for me. We can demand from Azerbaijan
to be ready for concessions and recognize the independence of Karabakh.Anna
Israeli
