Yesterday, in the line of contact between Karabakh and Azerbaijan, the firing was ceased by the decision of two sides, although Azerbaijan was continuing the shooting but not so intensively as before. Then the statement of the OSCE Minsk Group was followed condemning the unprecedented violence along the line of contact, expressed condolences to the affected families and urged the parties to immediately cease the use of force, “This conflict has no military solution. The deterioration of the situation on the scene points out the need to undertake urgent negotiations on a comprehensive settlement under the auspices of the Co-Chairs.”
Before this statement, RA President Serzh Sargsyan, at the military cemetery Erablur, attending the funeral services of Private Sasun Mkrtchyan – a contract serviceman, scout-gunner who fell during the military actions at the Nagorno-Karabakh contact line, said, “I have to state that we have no illusions, we have no powerful sponsors, but we have sympathy of the just people all over the world, we have everything to defend our homes, our Fatherland.” Serzh Sargsyan’s confession was unprecedented. What can be expected after these events? In fact, there is no ceasefire, nothing is clear. Life has shown that the statements by the international organizations are not a straitjacket for Azerbaijan.
In an interview with “Aravot”, Director of the Armenian Center for Political and International Studies, Agassi Yenokyan, said, “Yes, nothing is clear, even it is not clear whether there is a ceasefire or not. I think it would be very difficult to establish a ceasefire for a long time because one of the parties has not reached its goal. In other words, Aliyev has not reached a stunning victory for which all of this has begun, Serzh Sargsyan has not reached the establishment of the “status quo” which can be problematic in the pre-election year. In this respect, as the wishes have not coincided, it is hard to predict whether this ceasefire will last long.” Mr. Yenokyan, referring to the statement of the OSCE Minsk Group, says that it is the subsequent statement on duty but importantly that the Minsk Group session took place, and this means that they will think over new offers and new approaches to the problems.
As Yenokyan observed, the problem is that each country shall move by its own interests, Armenia has its own interests, Azerbaijan – its, Russia – its, “Each one is trying to move by its interests, when coincided, then it will be serious advancement, if not, then each one will try to continue to move by its interests.” To our observation that these interests do not coincide for many years, so what Armenia should and can do, Yenokyan said, “When there are talks about this war and discussion whether Azerbaijan, Turkey or Russia was to be blamed, I think that the main fault is that there is no political solution to the problem. We had taken the ceasefire as a solution of the problem. In this regard, Armenia is equally guilty because it seemed to Armenia that having a ceasefire it has a political solution.
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We obviously have not understood the interest that we would have from the solution of this problem, on the other hand, serious discussions and serious stakeholders are required for us to understand what will happen to Armenia after the solution of the Karabakh problem. And then to think, after which of the solution of the Karabakh conflict. In fact, until now, we have learned to survive in the conditions of insolvable problem, in a semi-war situation and now, a whole generation has grown up in these conditions.” Is the “status quo” not a solution to the problem? Is it not the time for Armenia to recognize the NKR independence, as some political analysts say, Serge Sargsyan has also alluded to it, in response to our questions, Agassi Yenokyan says that all the negotiations on the Karabakh conflict are aimed at the status, and this is the reason why Armenia does not recognize Karabakh’s independence until now, “If you recognize, then you come out of the negotiations because you have solved the main subject of negotiations for you. And if there are no negotiations, the war remains. Now, here is the question, is this a war, constantly continuous war and we have no choice but to recognize Karabakh?
If it is so, then, yes, we can recognize although we do not solve any issue, we recognize it and period. But if we do not recognize and leave by the military cooperation agreement that is being discussed now and if we move in this direction, we show our attitude but do not close the door to negotiations.” In 2013, when Serzh Sargsyan made a decision about Armenia’s accession to the Eurasian Economic Union, the government authorities were justifying it with the security of our country, now we are not so safe the EaEU, in response to our observation, Yenokyan responded as follows: “Serzh Sargsyan’s choice in this matter was little, whatever he had chosen: EaEU or EU, there was a pro-Russian opposition and it could take the place of the government. For Armenia, Armenia’s fate was clear without Serzh Sargsyan and it was to be with Russia. Armenia had no chance to choose, the question here is whether Serzh Sargsyan wants to stay in power. When they were saying, a security issue, it was the security issue of Serzh Sargsyan rather than Armenia’s. The problem is that the government obtains the legitimacy not from the people but from the Kremlin.”
Nelly BABAYAN, “Aravot” daily
