Elements Of Package And Stage-by-stage Solution ..

[MosJan]

Kazimirov Describes Today's Process as 'Dead Standstill'

 

If the package solution of Artsax issue was the only alternative for the Armenian side for the last years, then today elements of stage-by-stage solution are in process of discussion, Vladimir Kazimirov said yesterday at discussions organized by Cooperation for Open Society NGO and Yerevan Press Club. Former Russian OSCE co-chair's opinion is based on the hearings on Artsax issue at the National Assembly of Armenia on March 29-30.

 

The foreign minister of Armenia stated during the hearings that the elements of both package and stage-by-stage solution are on the table of discussions, "including the political status of Nagorno Artsax". Vartan Oskanian labeled the present stage of settlement process a "tough stage" and reconfirmed, in fact, that the solution cannot be only that of package. Official Yerevan gave up demanding exclusively package solution according to which all issues - the status of Artsax, neighboring territories, return of refugees, guarantees for security - are to be solved by one package.

 

"If people wish to choose the stage-by-stage solution this issue needs really to be discussed in the parliament and then tell the authorities that we lose our time and that we should take the stage-by-stage solution. All variants are just variants. I treat none of them as traitorous or heroic. The issue needs to be solved", Vartan Oskanian said to a press conference on December 13, 2004.

 

How close are the sides to the resolution? The Russian co-chair of the OSCE Minsk group told the Liberty Radio on the eve that the Minsk group prepared a new package of suggestions that will be put before Robert Kocharian and Ilham Aliyev and "everything now depends on the presidents' decision". "We have reached to a point that a high-level political decision needs to be taken, and the two presidents have to give clear orders to their foreign ministers", Yuri Merzlyakov said.

 

The Foreign Ministry of Armenia is unaware what stands for the Russian co-chair's optimism. The Minsk group will meet Armenian and Azeri presidents separately in London on April 15. The press secretary of the Foreign Ministry, Hamlet Gasparian, told daily Azg that the meeting of Oskanian and Mamediarov "is not envisaged, there is no arrangements". Apparently, the Minsk group will hand out the "new package of suggestions" in London.

 

Former Russian Minsk group co-chair, Vladimir Kazimirov, does not agree at all that the sides are close to settlement. Conversely, he thinks that the process is in "dead standstill". Instead, Kazimirov offers his own solution variant of small packages - "the guarantee plan". Kazimirov considers the package solution an ideal one but emphasizes that it is unreal.

 

Official Yerevan occasionally states that it will reach recognition of the Nagorno Artsax Republic. So, Oskanian noted on December 22 of 2004 that, "The realization of Artsax's self-determination right may be not immediate". Logically this mean that the status of Artsax is being left over for the future and the other key issues - neighboring territories, refugees, guarantees for security - are being settled separately.

 

Concerning a possible referendum in Nagorno Artsax, Vladimir Kazimirov who has been looking into the Artsax issue since 1992 thinks that "the referendum is the last way out" when all other means are used up. Meanwhile he asks when the referendum will take place, in 5, 10 years, who will take part and similar questions.

 

By Tatoul Hakobian