Alexander Margarov Says No Any Essential Document on NK Issue to be signed in Astana

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 25, ARMENPRESS: No any essential document on the regulation of the NK issue will be signed at the OSCE summit in Astana, according to Alexander Margarov, political scientist, head of the Armenian branch of Institute of CIS States.

He said today at a meeting with journalists that reconfirmation of approaches is quite possible during the summit. ‘The position of the Armenian party is quite clear-cut: we are ready to negotiate on the basis of the three famous principles – non-use of force or threat of force, right of peoples to determination and territorial integrity,’ Alexander Margarov said.

The political scientist said that the fact the RA President did not depart for Lisbon will be a warning to avoid formulations, which are drastic or disadvantageous for Armenia.

According to him, President of Georgia Mikhail Sahakashvili’s recent statement that Georgia does not tend to settle the issues of South Ossetia and Abkhazia through war proves that Azerbaijan is the region’s only force, which wants war. ‘Azerbaijan is not ready for peaceful talks over the conflict. This fact may be reconfirmed in Astana,’ he said.

According to Tatul Hakobyan, expert, journalist, it is not excluded that a package on the NK issue will be adopted, but its content will not involve any new point. He added that the NK issue has been touched upon during all the summits of the OSCE since 1994.

‘If an attempt will be made to touch upon the territorial integrity of Armenia and Azerbaijan, Armenia can make use of its right of veto, as Armenia is a full member of the OSCE,’ the expert said. Tatul Hakobyan added that it would be a right decision.