STEPANAKERT (Noyan Tapan)–"Our invincibility is in our unity–and all Armenia’s must unite around the Karabakh problem," Karabakh Defense Minister Samvel Babayan stated in retrospect of the July 6-7 seminar on resolving the Karabakh issue.
The meeting–called by the Armenian intelligentsia and Nagorno-Karabakh authorities to unite in support of Nagorno-Karabakh–was attended by leaders of eleven political parties and public organizations–lawyers and political analysts. "For this we voiced willingness to engage in dialogue with everyone. The most important thing for us was to find out the real position of Armenia’s political leaders," Babayan continued–"The time has come when we must know the stance of the main political forces.
"Acknowledgment of their position will help us determine our future course of action."
The weekend seminar adopted a statement confirming the decision of Armenia’s Supreme Council in 1992–affirming the unshakable will of the Armenian people of Karabakh to be independent from Azerbaijan.
The statement calls for all Armenia’s to promote the restoration of Karabakh’s economy and consolidate efforts for further improvement of Karabakh’s defense and security system.
Acting President of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Leonard Petrossian viewed the round table discussion as beginning of relations with Armenian political and public organizations. Not all political organizations of Armenia were represented at the meeting.
All the participants acknowledged the necessity of the unification the meeting sought. Poet Razmik Davoyan felt that there will be no success if everyone does not value the essence and content of the dialogue established.
"We must believe in our goal up to the end–the goal is just–it is vitally important for all the Armenian people," he said.
He felt that the consent demonstrated by Armenia’s intelligentsia and political organizations "nourishes the roots of our existence–and if we do not take into consideration this factor–sooner or later we are doomed. Karabakh will not be turned in–and I believe that our people will have the power to stand up for its national interests."
Liberty Party founder–former Prime Minister of Armenia Hrant Bagratian pointed out the necessity of getting a more detailed look at the adopted statement.
"An extraordinary situation has formed for Karabakh because Karabakh cannot be strong if Armenia is weak.
"In solving the Karabakh problem we should have the unity of all public and political forces–an atmosphere of dialogue leading to a consent," said Rouben Hakopian–representative of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation–welcoming this step taken by Karabakh authorities.
"The only way is to consider all approaches and to have national accord," said the ARF leader.
The Armenian National Movement–The Armenian Democratic Party–the Democratic League of Armenia and Shamiram women’s party did not take part in the conference.