The
Minister of Foreign Affairs declared during parliamentary hearings on "The
problem of Nagorno-Karabakh. The ways of settlement" theme.At the
beginning of his speech the Minister of Foreign Affairs promised to speak openly
but then reminded immediately that his possibilities were limited.Summarizing
the history of negotiations Vardan Oskanian found out that the document of Qi
West of the April 2001 "was affirming the fact of self-determination of Karabakh
people". He insisted that changes of ways of thinking took place from Lisbon
to Qi west during six years. But a difficult stage has begun with the new authorities
of Azerbaijan. "I’m obviously trying to turn the wheel of history back. Yes,
nowadays the Presidents of two republics meet each other though not with the previous
frequency. There is also negotiating process of the Ministers where all elements
of the settlement of the issue were put into agenda." Vardan Oskanian also
reminded that the Azerbaijanis try to send the issue of Nagorno-Karabakh to those
international instances where traditional approaches of territorial integrity
and self-determination are predominant. But the RA Minister of Foreign Affairs
declared that the NK conflict is different from other conflicts similar to this.
"The people of Nagorno-Karabakh have already self-determined, they have held
elections and have proved to the world that they are able to lead an independent
state. And now it is meaningless to persuade this people to return to the hegemony
of Azerbaijan." He affirmed that all intentions develop in strengthening
the right of self-determination: "As long the de facto independence of Karabakh
lasts as difficult it will be to turn the wheel of history back. Concluding his
speech Mr. Oskanian said that the conflict "won’t be settled by forming documents
and resolutions in the international instances. We are sure that no third party
can solve this problem for us. And we are also sure that nobody can oblige any
solution to anyone. The only solution is possible round negotiations by the concessions
of three parties." Mr. Oskanian also answered to the questions of the
participants. To the question how he imagined the NK status Mr. Oskanian said
that if Armenia declares officially its standpoint we would be accused of predicting
the results of negotiations. But then added that if he was asked as a common citizen
he would answer that "it will be ideal if Nagorno-Karabakh joins to the RA
and as a state to be able to develop and prosper in this region".To Lenser
Aghalovian’s question what the Minister of Foreign Affairs means saying Nagorno-Karabakh,
if only the Autonomous region of Nagorno-Karabakh Mr. Oskanian reminded that when
the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh was self-determined by referendum Shahumian region
was also included in that region.Rafik Hovhannisian was interested whether
it was possible to send the settlement of the conflict from the OSCE Minsk group
to the CoE. V. Oskanian answered that he couldn’t exclude it.Answering to
Karine Danielian’s mentioning that a few people are informed of the details of
the negotiations the Minister of Foreign Affairs answered. "I don’t imagine
how we can negotiate with the whole nation and to inform to the whole nation about
details of the negotiations when we haven’t in the stage yet where the people’s
opinion is important indeed".Anna Israelian