Armenian minister urges Azerbaijan to recognize Karabakh independence

Regnum, Moscow
9 May 06

[No dateline] A Regnum correspondent has reported from Stepanakert
that during a visit to Nagornyy Karabakh, Armenian Defence Minister
Serzh Sarkisyan said: “I do not agree with the statement that our
victory in the [Karabakh] war thrust upon us by Azerbaijan is only
half of the job. Victory is victory. Nagornyy Karabakh had
triumphed.”

The minister confidently said that the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict
could only be resolved through mutual concessions. “The establishment
of peace is impossible without mutual concessions. Azerbaijan should
recognize the Nagornyy Karabakh people’s right to independence. Over
there they should understand that the people have the right to live as
they want,” Sarkisyan said.

[Passage omitted: Nagornyy Karabakh celebrate the day of liberation of
Sushi on 9 May]