Armenian FM sees chances for ‘change of players’ in peace talks
Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian has said the rush of the
OSCE mediators brokering settlement to the long-standing conflict
over Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh was due to the possible "change of
players" after the 2008 presidential elections in Azerbaijan and
Armenia.
"A new president has the right to say that he does not accept the accord, and the intermediaries are striving to ensure that this can’t be done easily.
"There is another reason – the Minsk Group co-chairs might change as well -- at least there are signs of this. In these conditions, it would be best for all if the agreement was confirmed in some shape or form as a basis for further negotiations," Oskanian said.
He maintained that Yerevan’s position from the diplomatic standpoint was "quite strong". "If Armenia does not agree to the package of proposals that is on the negotiating table and decides to start from square one, this will grant Azerbaijan new opportunities. Besides, the international community will not allow to bring to naught the two-year-long efforts in developing the current document."
He claimed that the key issue in peace talks was the status of Upper Garabagh. "The co-chairs and international organizations understand this well. We are not at a stage yet to talk about finalizing the negotiating process. Even if a certain agreement on the document currently under discussion is reached, this will be just the beginning of a major [long] process."
The Azerbaijani government has repeatedly made it clear that if a possible peace accord is signed, the first step will be the Armenian troops’ withdrawal from Azerbaijani land, while the last one – the determination of Upper Garabagh’s status.
Oskanian said the paper being discussed concerns the principles of conflict settlement, while a peace accord should be worked on by lawyers after the sides agree these principles.
"Most of this document has been agreed, and the co-chairmen believe it is possible to finalize it in the presence of political will of the sides," Oskanian said but pointed to major outstanding issues that talks will be continued upon.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus republics reared up in the late 1980s due to Armenia’s territorial claims. Armenia has been occupying over 20% of Azerbaijan’s internationally-recognized territory since the early 1990s. The ceasefire accord was signed in 1994, but peace talks have been fruitless so far.*
"A new president has the right to say that he does not accept the accord, and the intermediaries are striving to ensure that this can’t be done easily.
"There is another reason – the Minsk Group co-chairs might change as well -- at least there are signs of this. In these conditions, it would be best for all if the agreement was confirmed in some shape or form as a basis for further negotiations," Oskanian said.
He maintained that Yerevan’s position from the diplomatic standpoint was "quite strong". "If Armenia does not agree to the package of proposals that is on the negotiating table and decides to start from square one, this will grant Azerbaijan new opportunities. Besides, the international community will not allow to bring to naught the two-year-long efforts in developing the current document."
He claimed that the key issue in peace talks was the status of Upper Garabagh. "The co-chairs and international organizations understand this well. We are not at a stage yet to talk about finalizing the negotiating process. Even if a certain agreement on the document currently under discussion is reached, this will be just the beginning of a major [long] process."
The Azerbaijani government has repeatedly made it clear that if a possible peace accord is signed, the first step will be the Armenian troops’ withdrawal from Azerbaijani land, while the last one – the determination of Upper Garabagh’s status.
Oskanian said the paper being discussed concerns the principles of conflict settlement, while a peace accord should be worked on by lawyers after the sides agree these principles.
"Most of this document has been agreed, and the co-chairmen believe it is possible to finalize it in the presence of political will of the sides," Oskanian said but pointed to major outstanding issues that talks will be continued upon.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus republics reared up in the late 1980s due to Armenia’s territorial claims. Armenia has been occupying over 20% of Azerbaijan’s internationally-recognized territory since the early 1990s. The ceasefire accord was signed in 1994, but peace talks have been fruitless so far.*
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