YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)–Representatives of various political forces and several journalists met in Yerevan on July 21 to discuss the official position along with public perception about the Mountainous Karabagh conflict resolution process.
Organized by the Armenian Press Club–the event attracted Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) and Republican party representatives–and members of the Constitutional Rights Union.
The most outspoken critic of returning liberated territories under some sort of mutual agreement was ARF’s Giro Manoyan who categorically ruled out the option–saying those territories serve as a protective zone around the Mountainous Karabagh Republic.
He instead proposed that the liberated territories be defined–and MKR declare sovereignty over the liberated territories. "We shouldn’t forget that blood was shed there," he declared
Manoyan explained that if the status of liberated territories remains unclear–not only will speculation about its surrender to Azerbaijan persist–but its population will also face constant threat.
"We should do our best to establish a situation–in which those living within the liberated territories cannot be exiled," he emphasized–saying negotiations need to become more active.