Karabakh settlement is beneficial neither for Armenian nor for Azerbaijani presidents, says HHSh leader

Board Chairman of the Armenian Pan-National Movement (HHSh) party Aram Manukyan lashed out at political circles that criticized a recent move by the HHSh aimed at resolving the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

It comes after the HHSh, the Georgian Liberal Party and the Azerbaijani Musafat Party signed recently a declaration in Potsdam, Germany, which underscored the necessity of peaceful settlement of the Karabakh issue.

“I knew this would happen,” Mr Manukyan said at a press conference today, adding that the South Caucasus must live in peace and that peace must be established decently by decisions reached at a negotiation table.

Further he said that Armenia must one day sign documents that will normalize relations both with Azerbaijan and with Turkey.
“I am in favor of all kinds of contacts that will bring peace to the country, to the region, and the one we signed, stipulating that the conflict must be resolved peacefully, is an international provision and a wish of mine,” he added.

Speaking about the Azerbaijani Musafat Party, Mr Manukyan mentioned that it is Azerbaijan’s liberal power that has because of the Azerbaijani ruling authorities been persecuted.

“Moreover they are those men who used to fight from the other side of the trench during the Karabakh movement [meaning war]. That is to say the men fighting from the both sides of the trench consider that the time for peace for their countries has come,” explained he.

Aram Manukyan also said that they do not hold any contacts with the Azerbaijani state but rather with opposition Musafat party, adding that it will be beneficial for Armenia, if the liberals come to power in Azerbaijan.

“Let Serzh Sargsyan has the courage to sign an agreement with the Azerbaijanis stating he is in favor for the principle of peaceful settlement. The peaceful settlement of the Karabakh issue is not beneficial for either [meaning Armenian or Azerbaijani presidents], they both are criminal regimes, in both cases the peaceful settlement and the resolution of the issue means an immediate loss of power,” said Aram Manukyan.