DeFacto Agency, Armenia
March 10 2006

ARAM G. SARGSYAN: ARMENIA SHOULD RECOGNIZE LEGITIMACY OF KARABAKH’S
WITHDRAWAL FROM AZERBAIJAN

Nagorno Karabakh’s participation in the negotiation process is one of
the principal issues in the context of the Karabakh conflict
settlement, RA Democratic Party leader, National Assembly deputy,
Justice Faction member Aram G. Sargsyan believes.
In the course of a press conference that was held today Democratic
Party leader stated to involve Nagorno Karabakh in the talks Armenia
should first recognize the process of the Nagorno Karabakh’s
withdrawal from Azerbaijan legal, corresponding to all the
international standards. That is the essence of a draft referring to
the ways of the Karabakh conflict settlement Democratic Party
presented to the Parliament. According to A. Sargsyan, it will enable
the Armenian party to present the Nagorno Karabakh as a subject at
the Karabakh talks. The deputy noted at present Karabakh turned into
the negotiations’ object, which made the Armenian party’s stand very
vulnerable. He stressed recognition of legitimacy of the Karabakh’s
withdrawal from Azerbaijan did not imply recognition of independence
of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic. In his words, the issue of
recognition of the NKR by Armenia should be submitted to a
nation-wide referendum. In the course of the referendum the people
must resolve the following issue: to recognize the NKR as an
independent state or as Armenia’s integral part. Aram Sargsyan added
the referendum should be held in not only in Armenia, but in the
Nagorno Karabakh as well.
In the politician’s words, the policy Armenia pursues in the Karabakh
issue is unacceptable for Karabakh as well. It is disagreement with
Armenia’s position that made the NKR President Arkady Ghoukasyan
state that the Karabakh party should be immediately involved in the
negotiation process.
As for Robert Kocharyan’s statement, according to which Armenia may
recognize the NKR, Aram Sargsyan believes it was made late. `Late
statements often result in negative consequences’, he remarked.
Touching upon Azerbaijan’s bellicose statements, the deputy stated
they were rather rhetorical. In his opinion, nowadays the word `war’
is just inadmissible for the South Caucasus countries. He noted
everyone was aware of the fact that in case a war was resumed the
hostilities would be much more large-scale than in early nineties, as
not only Armenia and Azerbaijan, but other states would be dragged in
the conflict. He added not Armenia or Azerbaijan, but superpowers
that are interested in the region determined the issues of the war’s
resumption. Aram Sargsyan is sure the interest of the external
powers, which put pressure both on Armenia and Azerbaijan, is a
principal factor in the Karabakh settlement.