Both Armenians and Azerbaijanis complain of Minsk Group activity, but overall, Azerbaijanis complain more than Armenians, inasmuch as any initiative towards peace draws Azerbaijan and Azerbaijanis backwards from their absurd and unreal ambitions more and more. And no second thought can be in place that the activity of Minsk Group is anyways a peacekeeping one.
We say it is war, the war continues, but it is a fact that also relative peace proceeds, moreover, for years before and after April War, until now. Assuredly the ones opposing me will say that both parties are continually having victims: the ones opposing me will also say that Minsk Group has not achieved any real result throughout its long-term existence and activity.
But expecting results more than this from Minsk Group activity is a naivety and simplicity: if the conflicting parties do not find common ties by any means, Minsk Group cannot achieve any certain result and it does not have right to impose any path or solution on anyone: it is beyond its legitimacy.
The ones dissatisfied with Minsk Group activity also complain that its existence is costly and rather big sums are spent on its activity pointlessly. We are not for that they are spent pointlessly, but if even it is so, why are we “concerned”? let the ones who spend be concerned. People expecting an actual result and a benefit from Minsk Group activity should accept that if there is no real benefit from its activity, there is no damage for sure. It would bring damage solely in the case when Minsk Group escalated the conflict between the two parties by any means. But I do not remember any such case.
Assuredly we can agree that the continuing announcements of Minsk Group do not have a serious influence on the situation and do not change the situation, but let us agree that Gordian knots appear both in life and politics and Karabakh conflict is in it, inasmuch as the wishes and aspirations of the parties not only do not coincide but also are contrary to each other by 100%.
During the pre-election period of the latest parliamentary elections, when Armenian National Congress was voicing and bringing forth explicit and absolute peaceful slogans, it was being blamed along with a definite criticism. Nevertheless, it had little in number but supporters. Anyway, regardless of a rather small part, but a part of voters gave its voice to Armenian National Congress nonetheless.
Of course, it is difficult to imagine, but let us do so, what would happen in Azerbaijan if ANC type of organization or a party appeared and voiced urges towards peace there similarly. They would have definitely massacred them and subjected to a terror. Definitely. It not only means that we are more peaceful than they, but also that peace is more favorable to us than them. This is also the reason why they continually make furious speeches against Minsk Group. It appears that peace is Azerbaijan’s defeat. However, it appears that war is not Azerbaijan’s victory as well: they have been convinced of that manifold times.
That is, Azerbaijan and Azerbaijanis have appeared in a Gordian knot and this is the reason that whatever they do occurs to be nonsense and whatever they say appears a delirium. It seems to Azerbaijanis that Minsk Group is able to solve the whole issue of Azerbaijan, but it does not solve because it is pro-Armenian. Maximalists exist among Armenians thinking that Minsk Group is able to solve the issue of Karabakh independence, but it does not. In short, the work of Minks Group is an ungrateful one, forasmuch as the conflicting parties expect real benefit from Minsk Group.
In our personal opinion, the existence of Minsk Group is overall a positive one and it is better for Minsk Group to exist than not. If the existence and activity of Minsk Group is interrupted, a similar other structure and body is to be formed, the activity of which will not be more effective than that of the Minsk Group’s. Apparently.
VOSKAN YEREVANTSI
“Aravot”
12.07.2017