TBILISI (Combined Sources)—Georgia’s president, Mikheil Saakashvili Wednesday called for unmediated dialogue between Armenia and Azerbaijan to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, implied his support for Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity, and urged coordination of Armenia-Turkey ties with Azerbaijan.
“There is only one solution to the [Karabakh] problem — direct negotiations between the countries and observance of international law, including guarantees for people to return to their homeland and respect for national sovereignty,” Saakashvili told the Russian-based Echo of Moscow radio.
The Georgian leader said that normalization of Armenia-Turkey relations should be coordinated with Azerbaijan, adding that the Armenia-Turkey process should serve as a blueprint for future Armenia-Azerbaijan talks without international mediators.
To outline his insistence for removal of international mediators from the Karabakh talks, Saakashvili claimed the main problem with the conflict resolution was that Russia is the main “key holder” in the process.
“Let Saakashvili mind his own country’s territorial problems and not meddle in other peoples’ conflicts,” said Armenian parliament member Shirak Torosyan who is the chairman of Javakhk Compatriotic Union in response to Saakashvili’s remarks.
“It would be better for Saakashvili to guarantee rights to the minority population in Georgia in order to avoid ethnic conflict in its own borders,” added Torosyan, saying the Karabakh issue was settled when, through a national referendum, the Nargorno-Karabakh Republic declared independence.
“I would like to emphasize that Karabakh shed blood for its independence and no one has the right to usurp that, said Torosyan who claimed Saakashvili’s support for Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity stemmed from his own inability to address conflicts within his country’s borders.
Giro Manoyan, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation’s political director said Saakashvili did not support normalization of relations between Armenia and Turkey, since it would minimize its role in the region.
This clown…is a clown by all rights.
it makes you wonder how, or why did most politicians end up in the positions they are???
Who is this guy to try and judge a neighbor? This is another example of turkey and azeris puppet trying to throw his two cents into a situation he is not familiar with. Its unfortunate that saakashvili was unable to negotiate abkhazia and south ossetia into georgia’s territorial integrity.. but hell… if you try to kill you own citizens to take the lands under your control.. look what happens..
Its only a matter of time before Karabach is reunited with Armenia.
The Artsakh problem is not your bussiness, stupid Saakashvili!
Solve the problems of your country.
Saakashvili
Your time will come,you have distroyed Geogia and when you loose Javakhk hopefully Iwill be sitting here and saying what a grate president you are.
Keep on taking drugs.
It is however true that Russia is the true key holder to peace since it originally gave away Armenian lands to the Azeris….don’t you think ?
This mentally unstable fool should mind his own country’s business. Armenian has more that enough “advisors”
This man is not only a clown but also a dangerous clown. Who listens to him anyway?
Amazing dribble coming from a head of state that only in the last months was battered and demolished by the local powerhouse, Russia. He should mind his own territorial integrity and the way in which he treats minorities in his own state so that minority groups do not feel threatened and seek independence the way South Ossetia did. Prior to that he put all of his people behind by more than 20 years by trying to court NATO and the US, causing subsequent demolition of Georgia’s infrastructure by Russian armed forces.
How farsighted could one possibly consider the Mexican President if all of a sudden he began courting Russia for CIS privileges, the US would never tolerate this and Mexico would be the next Cuba, which is essentially what this clown did with the US, risking his peoples’ safety and angering Russia. “Too big or his britches” is exactly what comes to mind every time this guy speaks. Sit down little man.
Saakashvilli is better off Chewing his TIE than meddling in complicated matters which are above his inteligence.
We don’t need this ridiculous hypocrite Saakashvili’s advices in our Armenian issues.
This guy will probably go down in history as the world’s “Biggest Looser” …but it’s ultimately the good people of GA who loose when morons like this are put in positions of power. I hope 2009 takes this guy along with it.
Too bad Russia didn’t finish him when they had the chance.
Saakashvili is definetely right about Russia being “key holder” in the process. Everyone knows that Azeris were fighting Russians in Karabakh, not Armenians. I wonder, what will be Armenia’s next step if Azerbaijan convinces Georgia to blocade Armenia?
I can clearly see where Azerbaijan is going with its fastest growing economy. The country used its power in 2009 to put hold on Turkey-Armenia reapproachment, now has got Georgia on its side. I’m telling you folks, it’s time to win wars with money and influence, not by fighting, and Azeris are doing this in the right way: winning Karabakh back without firing a single bullet and forcing Armenia into powerty.
Saakashvili is definetely right about Russia being “key holder” in the process. Everyone knows that Azeris were fighting Russians in Karabakh, not Armenians. I wonder, what will be Armenia’s next step if Azerbaijan convinces Georgia to blocade Armenia?
I can clearly see where Azerbaijan is going with its fastest growing economy. The country used its power in 2009 to put hold on Turkey-Armenia reapproachment, now has got Georgia on its side. I’m telling you folks, it’s time to win wars with money and influence, not by fighting, and Azeris are doing this in the right way: winning Karabakh back without firing a single bullet and forcing Armenia into poverty.
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Mr. Saakashvili,
You are barely holding on to your seat and your country on the brink of complete dismemberment. Remember, Adjaria did not support you when you were running for president? Adjaria and Javakhk do not want your racist “georgianization” policies which is depraving the indigenous people of their rights.
Hi there! Good concept, but can this really function?