Vardan Oskanyan: "Through the past 20 years Armenia has never been so weak in the internal political sense as it is now"

According to KarabakhOpen, the former minister divided the whole process into four stages-1991-1994, 1994-1998, 1998 and up to now and the stage, which has already started.

The former minister described the four stages in the light of four main factors, which had an influence on the resolution of the conflict.

These factors are the following, according to Oskanyan: 1. Tendencies of international development. 2. interests of the super states in the said region. 3. internal political state of conflict countries. 4. diplomatic potential of the sides.

Assessing the first stage, Vardan Oskanyan noted that immediately following the USSR collapse international principles were against us. In particular, recognizing the new states, world society did not allow to use the right for self-determination of the parts of these countries due to the threat of domino effect.

The interests of the super states in the region were also not defined, internal political situation in the conflict states was unstable and diplomacy was weak. The world community tried to settle the conflict on the basis of total spread of democratic principles and involvement of conflicting sides in the supranational projects, all of which lead to a protracted war.

In 1994-1998 the world society started to doubt about its approaches to the conflicts. Accents started to change and the conflicting sides to reanimate. Countries displayed interest in the region and professional diplomacy appeared.

In 1998 power changed in Armenia, international tendencies also changes and owing to good diplomacy, according to Oskanyan, it became possible to work out a document, which "confirms the rights of the Nagorno Karabakh people for self-determination".

Within 10 years following 1998, according to the former Foreign Minister, the circumstances are against the Armenian people. "Following Kosovo's recognition, the world society is against the right for self-determination. It was stated on all levels that Kosovo can not a precedent and these are not just world, this is the determination of the world society.

It will become a great obstacle on our way. Moreover, deepening of differences between the United States and Russia will inevitably affect our region. The third factor is that through the last 20 years Armenia has never been so weak as to its internal political situation, as it is now.

In this background, the fourth factor-diplomacy- acquires great importance. The President and the Foreign Minister have changed in Armenia and they stated adherence to the former policy. But I still do not see any exact contours", said Oskanyan.

In conclusion he noted: "I consider the document, which is currently on the negotiation table, to be the most optimal and I do hope that Azerbaijan will not reject it".

/Panorama.am/