VARDAN OSKANYAN: ARMENIA NOT ISOLATED IN REGION
14.06.2007,
20:44
RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan stated that Armenia is not isolated, but “is just keeping away” for political reasons. “This is not good for the region in general and affects its interests, including the interests of Turkey and Azerbaijan”, he said.
YEREVAN, June 14. /ARKA/. RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan stated that Armenia does not feel isolated in the region.
In his interview to the Armenian “Kentron” TV Company he stated that Armenia is not isolated, but “is just keeping away” for political reasons.
“This is not good for the region in general and affects its interests, including the interests of Turkey and Azerbaijan. In this matter they are acting against themselves,” Oskanyan said. He added that attempts to completely isolate Armenia do not cause more damage to the country than that caused as a result of closed Armenian-Turkish border.
“It is not a matter of life and death for us. Of course, it is desirable that we have normal good-neighborly relations, and there is no doubt that we must do our best for this, but it must not by any means be linked with the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh problem,” Oskanyan said.
According to him, the Armenian side has focused on accomplishing the task set to it, namely, ensuring the Nagorno-Karabakh’s people’s right to self-determination, settling the conflict, establishing peace, ensuring security of the Nagorno-Karabakh population and normalizing relations with the neighbors.
“There are no reasons for preventing Armenia’s involvement in regional and economic projects after the relations have been normalized,” Oskanyan said.
“We should not forget that many economic problems will be easy to resolve if Armenia is involved in regional economic projects. The countries trying to have Armenia ousted from regional economic projects pay for it,” Oskanyan said.
According to him, these countries need Armenia’s involvement in the projects.
“The major obstacle is the Nagorno-Karabakh problem. If it is resolved, all the other problems will be resolved, I am sure,” Oskanyan said.
The Minister pointed out the inadvisability of laying emphasis on economic problems during the negotiations for the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement.
“This will weaken our positions, as Azerbaijan will think that we are dependent on all this,” Oskanyan said. P.T. –0--
In his interview to the Armenian “Kentron” TV Company he stated that Armenia is not isolated, but “is just keeping away” for political reasons.
“This is not good for the region in general and affects its interests, including the interests of Turkey and Azerbaijan. In this matter they are acting against themselves,” Oskanyan said. He added that attempts to completely isolate Armenia do not cause more damage to the country than that caused as a result of closed Armenian-Turkish border.
“It is not a matter of life and death for us. Of course, it is desirable that we have normal good-neighborly relations, and there is no doubt that we must do our best for this, but it must not by any means be linked with the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh problem,” Oskanyan said.
According to him, the Armenian side has focused on accomplishing the task set to it, namely, ensuring the Nagorno-Karabakh’s people’s right to self-determination, settling the conflict, establishing peace, ensuring security of the Nagorno-Karabakh population and normalizing relations with the neighbors.
“There are no reasons for preventing Armenia’s involvement in regional and economic projects after the relations have been normalized,” Oskanyan said.
“We should not forget that many economic problems will be easy to resolve if Armenia is involved in regional economic projects. The countries trying to have Armenia ousted from regional economic projects pay for it,” Oskanyan said.
According to him, these countries need Armenia’s involvement in the projects.
“The major obstacle is the Nagorno-Karabakh problem. If it is resolved, all the other problems will be resolved, I am sure,” Oskanyan said.
The Minister pointed out the inadvisability of laying emphasis on economic problems during the negotiations for the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement.
“This will weaken our positions, as Azerbaijan will think that we are dependent on all this,” Oskanyan said. P.T. –0--
