The OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen’s relevance of the Karabagh conflict settlement principles was not only a threat to the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan, but it was also aimed towards finding out the opinion of both societies.
Armenian society isn’t really discussing this issue for the time being. The only one who actually made a comment about the Karabagh conflict settlement was Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Vartan Oskanyan. As for most Armenian political parties, they’re simply not saying a word.
Some of them don’t even have a clue about the conflict settlement much less orientation and they only make the same announcements. Others are simply afraid of being called traitors and don’t confess that the presidents must make compromises no matter how unfortunate that will be for both sides.
On July 7, the “Armenian Youth Party” organized a debate regarding the Karabagh conflict settlement principles. The debate turned into a swearing of loyalty to Robert Kocharyan. The young party members said that they had sent letters to both President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan and President of Nagorno Karabagh Arkadi Ghukasyan, stating that they will support them in their decisions “about any variant proposed during the negotiations based on Karabagh’s interests”. They’re also prepared to take on part of the responsibility for the society and international community.
The youth party members also called on the people to support the authorities. However, during the debate, President of the Artists’ Union of Armenia Karen Aghamyan said that no party has the right to take advantage of the Karabagh conflict during its pre-election campaign. Rector of the Yerevan State University (YSU) Aram Simonyan said the same thing during an interview.
“I don’t accept taking advantage of the Karabagh conflict during the pre-election campaign. I consider that issue above any kind of election and in my opinion, any political party that uses that conflict for pre-election campaign purposes isn’t thinking about the nation,” said A. Simonyan.
I tried to find out from the other participants what they thought about Matthew Bryza’s revealed principles and what they would do if President Robert Kocharyan signs under the document. None of the participants said anything, claiming that they can’t express their opinions as long as there are no details about the conflict settlement.
According to rector of the Brusov foreign languages university Suren Zulyan, Matthew Bryza’s announcements may serve as a firm basis for future negotiations.
“They must focus on each principle and we can’t have this kind of uncertainty,” says Mr. Zulyan.
Zulyan says that the sides must pay special attention to the return of the territories and the referendum.
“Without that, it’s obvious that the agreement won’t be mutual,” says Suren Zulyan.
YSU rector Aram Simonyan is of the opinion that there are some main principles, which can’t be discussed during the negotiations.
“This concerns national security and survival of Nagorno Karabagh and I don’t think that should be a topic for discussion,” says the YSU rector. He adds that the negotiations process and termination depend on the “unity of Armenians”.
Deputy head of the youth party Vahan Babayan promised to say what the party thinks about the principles after hearing what Robert Kocharyan and Serge Sargsyan have to say.
“The Armenian authorities still haven’t expressed their opinions on the principles. Nagorno Karabagh conducted a referendum a long time ago and stood up for its right to be independent. Our party is in favor of that. We will join anyone who is in favor of that too,” said former oppositionist Vahan Babayan and added that the compromises must be in the interests of the people of Armenia and Karabagh.