“Ms. Nuland’s visit to the regions was important especially from the perspective that this was the first trip by this level American official to Armenia after imposing sanctions against Russia by the West, and presentation of the vision of the USA administration pertaining to prospective of bipartite relations by her under the new geopolitical situation was expected”, said former Foreign Minister of Nagorno-Karabakh Arman Melikyan in the conversation with “Aravot”, summing up the US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Victoria Nuland’s visit. Our interlocutor appraises the fact that the American side had expressed its readiness to deepen cooperation in a number of key spheres.
At the same time, we gave a greater attention to the views expressed by Ms. Nuland regarding the possibility of extradition of the subversives to the Azerbaijani side convicted for teenager’s murder and a number of other crimes in Artsakh, as well as the Armenian-Turkish reconciliation process. “With regard to the future of the Armenian-Turkish reconciliation process, she had expressed her joy that Armenia has not suspended her participation in it, and this high-level official’s statement seemed strange to many people which was made right after Mr. Serzh Sargsyan recalled the infamous Armenian-Turkish Protocols. I think that Ms. Nuland is right that Armenia will be a part of this process as long as it has not canceled the signature by its official representative underneath the protocols.
Pertaining to the subversives, Ms. Nuland’s humanitarian approaches upset many people, it is hard to understand the assassins, in fact, the offer to grant liberty and a hero of Azerbaijan. I think that this issue should be considered in the political context by putting the words about humanitarian aspirations aside,” said Arman Melikyan, adding that the United States, as well as the Republic of Armenia do not recognize Nagorno-Karabakh as an independent state, and as long as the issue has not acquired its legal solution, we view Artsakh as a territory of Azerbaijan, which is under the Baku court’s jurisdiction domain.
“Thus, the NKR court instances’ activities cannot be considered legal. The Artsakh court decisions will be considered legitimate by the countries that will recognize the NKR state independence. Here’s what the political and governmental circles of Armenia should think about. On the other hand, it is worth remembering, too, that if I’m not mistaken, the Russian foreign minister was the first who raised the possibility of extradition of subversives to Azerbaijan via mediation of Russia, this means that the American official has simply restored the balance,” opines our interlocutor adding that under this situation, the Armenian side gains the opportunity to make some actions. “If Armenia along with the Russian relevant authorities carries out joint investigation regarding the brutal murder in Gyumri, then Artsakh can offer the American side to carry out a joint investigation for this kind of crimes, as well as prior to the final resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, to provide legal assistance to Azerbaijani citizens at the NKR courts and to the people of Artsakh at the Azerbaijani court instances, it is possible to find mutually acceptable forms for this kind of partnership.”
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N. GRIGORYAN
