RA president’s special envoy in 1992-95, head of the NSS (National Security Service) in 1994-95, Chairman of “Concord” Political Research Center David Shahnazaryan today gave an interview to “First News and Analyses” covering Safarov case implications for Armenia.
During the interview Shahnazaryan defined Safarov case a “deliberate and planned act to hit the Karabakh conflict settlement process and the OSCE Minsk group”. He affirmed having no doubt that the government of Hungary was aware of post-extradition release, or at least estimated beforehand that release could have happened.
In words of the politician Safarov case opens a new field Armenia to reach new results in Nagorno-Karabah conflict settlement process. “First of all, in the settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict process: Armenia in the format of OSCE MG should record, that there is a basis for a peaceful settlement of OSCE adopted documents and the UN Security Council resolutions. Especially important are the summit resolution in 1994, Budapest, which clearly stated that the Nagorno-Karabakh is an negotiating party, and 1995 Prague’s decision, which clarified the OSCE Minsk Group format: Azerbaijan- Nagorno-Karabakh – Armenia.”
“In the negotiation process with OSCE Minsk Group another new factor should be used. Authorities of Aliyev and Azerbaijan have repeatedly refused to establish diplomatic internationally undertaken commitments, their signed documents. Recently the European Parliament adopted a resolution of not implementing diplomatic commitments by Azerbaijan. I find this formula not adequate to the situation, but that point is very important for us, as the European Parliament clearly states that Azerbaijan refuses “diplomatic commitments.” Armenia should reach the fact that the OSCE Minsk Group and the international institutions to assume that they are dealing with Azerbaijan, a country, which regularly refuses to perform its diplomatic obligations, as well as maintain a policy of racism.”, further noted David Shahnazaryan.
Shahnazaryan touched upon Armenia making use of the resolution adopted by the European Parliament, saying that this is an important point, which opens opportunities and activities in the field- “I think that there is a great job in the European Union in their own proclaimed principles. And if the EU has announced that it wants to have a role in the Karabakh settlement process, they should take into account this reality, but it must be included in the contract of negotiations on the Association Agreement between the EU and Azerbaijan.” Using NATO as another platform to gain dividends in the peace settlement process was also underlined.
Concluding Shahnazaryan outlined several steps to make further use of Safarov case in favor of Armenia: a) hearing Nagorno-Karabakh issue in the European Council, b) creation of a parliamentary committee in Armenia’s National Assembly to raise the issue in various parliamentary circles and prove impossibility of Nagorno-Karabakh being subject to Azerbaijan, c)participation of NKR diplomats in various international circles, conferences, seminars and other similar events , d) hire international lobbying companies, e) direct the efforts of Armenian lobby and the Diaspora to have the 907 bill passed in U.S. Congress. Shahnazaryan concluded” Armenia needs to employ not only budgetary but outside resources as well or I’m afraid Armenia doesn’t make use of the exceptional chance”.
