River Kura will Rather Change its Course and Fall into the Black Sea, than Karabakh will Appear within Azerbaijan: Eduard Sharmazanov
“I don’t consider that any expert assessment should be commented. There are lots of figures like Bryza, who may express an opinion, and despite those ideas and assessments, I clearly gave my assessment: since 1994 together with all disputable issues, positions of the Republics of Armenia and Artsakh in negotiations regarding documentation wasn’t as profitable as they’re today,” Eduard Sharmazanov, NA Deputy Speaker, RPA spokesman, told 168.am commenting on the statement by the former United States Ambassador to Azerbaijan, an American diplomat Matthew Bryza, that in 2007 number of territories to be returned comprised 7, in 2009 president Sargsyan changed his position and proposed to return only 5 regions, and this June RF president Vladimir Putin proposed to start from return of 2 regions, and in Yerevan after seizure of the police station Armenia’s position became even tougher.
Reflecting to mutual concessions, E.Sharmazanov stated that all peaceful negotiations end with mutual concessions, however, now if they speak of mutual concessions, first of all, they should say which Azerbaijan’s concession is, “If Azerbaijan speaks of resuming war, reaching to Sevan, Zangezur, Yerevan, it makes such inadequate statements, we have stated not once that mediators should press Azerbaijan and, moreover, after the April war the statement made by me is in force—sanctions should be imposed, as Aliyev and Azerbaijan’s authorities committed international crime against Arstakhi libertarian people, including violation of all written and unwritten military norms.
We stated the line, beyond which we don’t observe any concession, president Sargsyan clearly stated it, also in Moscow at Putin’s presence that NKR people should totally make use of its right to referendum, and Karabakh can’t be included in Azerbaijan. Kura River will rather change its course and fall into the Black Sea, than Karabakh will appear within Azerbaijan. The president has also stated that agreements have been reached in Vienna and St. Petersburg, and we are ready to implement them. It refers to installation of investigative mechanisms and expansion of the office of OSCE MG Chairperson-in-Office. Azerbaijan refuses it, however, other mediators state like one, that they should be implemented. And they should exert pressure over Azerbaijan, that all oral agreements were shaped as a statement after the Vienna Summit, and it should implement them.”
E.Sharmazanov stated that currently number one issue is continuing negotiations and excluding war, for which Azerbaijani authorities should put an end to its warlike rhetoric and maximalism.
“The ball is in the Azerbaijani field. We say “mutual concession,” Azerbaijan perceives it differently. If they understand that Karabakh should be included in their territory, they’re mistaken. Imaginations on mutual concessions are different. They have lost 7 regions and were defeated at Karabakh war, instead of returning to negotiations about which territories do they speak of? I once again state Yerevan’s official position: to settle the issue, reasons and not the after-effect should be eliminated. Territories, refugees, peacekeepers—these all are after-effects. The reason is denial of the right to self-determination of Karabakhi people by Azerbaijan. Why do they touch upon territories? Key point of the issue is Karabakh’s status. Let Azerbaijan recognize Karabakh’s participation in negotiations first. After the April war mediators touch upon 1994-1995 ceasefire agreement, however, Karabakh’s signature is also put there. Everybody should realize—the issue won’t be settled without Stepanakert. If this is perceived in respective capitals, we’ll move forward, otherwise we’ll face a deadlock,” Sharmazanov said.
By Gayane Khachatryan
