THERE IS NO NATION WHICH VOLUNTARILY REFUSES ITS INDEPENDENCE OF 15 YEARS: KARABAKH IS NOT EXCEPTION, RA PRESIDENT AFFIRMS

Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Nov 17 2006

BERLIN, NOVEMBER 17, NOYAN TAPAN. "We are supporters of peaceful
settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. OSCE Minsk Group
Co-Chairmen attempt to bring our positions closer. Unfortunately,
in spite of proceeding active negotiations, there is little ground
for optimism." RA President Robert Kocharian said about it during
his November 15 speech at the Bertelsmann Foundation, within the
framework of the working visit paid to the FDR.

In his words, the principal position of Armenia is that the Karabakh
people carried out its right of self-determination, and it was
implemented fully corresponding to the international norms. "Many
independent states of present were founded after fall of former
empires. The Nagorno Karabakh independence was got at the time of
fall of the Soviet Union. Even more, that is the end of ideological
huge split. Nagorno Karabakh has never been a part of independent
Azerbaijan," the RA President mentioned.

R.Kocharian emphasized that owing to successful building of its
statehood, the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh proved its right of
existence. "It periodically holds democratic parliamentary and
president’s elections. We are witnesses of development of the civil
society," he said, adding that a generation has already grown which
considers itself personification and keeper of that statehood.

"We do not remember an example of a nation which itself voluntarily
refused its independence of 15 years. Nobody intends to do it in
the case of Karabakh. We speak about irreversible changes which took
place in people’s consciousness," the RA President stated.