OPTIMAL STATUS FOR NAGORNY KARABAKH IS INDEPENDENCE IN NEAR FUTURE AND
PART OF ARMENIA IN LONG-TERM PROSPECT

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 26. ARMINFO. The optimal status for Nagorny Karabakh
is independence in the near future and part of Armenia in the
long-term prospect, Armenia’s President Robert Kocharyan says in his
interview to the readers of Golos Armenii.

As long as there is no practical solution to the Karabakh conflict the
talk about stalemate in the negotiating process is
inevitable. International experience says that such conflicts are not
settled quickly. They require painstaking and consistent work –
“that’s exactly what we are doing.” The talks are resumed now and “we
are hoping for some result.”

Kocharyan says that there is some incorrect understanding of Nagorny
Karabakh’s involvement in the negotiating process – this process is
much wider than just coordinating meetings of the Armenian and NKR
presidents. This is systematic visits by Minsk Group and their
meetings with NKR leaders. This is the most pithy part of the
talks. NKR is an active party to the whole process. Kocharyan notes
that during his meetings with Ilham Aliev he represents NKR’s
interests as well. “If course we will seek to get Nagorny Karabakh
involved in this format and I believe that we will do that,” says
Kocharyan noting that this requires healthy pragmatism in approaching
the negotiating technologies. Azerbaijan is too sensitive to
conditionalities. NKR’s more active involvement in the process will
certainly increase settlement chances, says Kocharyan.