ArmInfo News Agency, Armenia
Dec 1 2006

ARMENIAN FM: KARABAKH CONFLICT MUST BE SETTLED ON THE BASIS OF THE
PRINCIPLE OF PEOPLES’ RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION

The position of the Armenian party in the settlement of Karabakh
conflict remains unchanged: the issue must be settled on the basis of
the principle of peoples’ right to self-determination, said Armenian
Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan at a press conference, Friday.

The minister thinks there is only one way to unite the two
contradictory principles (territorial integrity and peoples’ right to
self-determination – ed.) – through a referendum. The minister said
the document on the negotiating table reflects the idea of the
referendum. "That is why, I can say that we see the prospect of
combination of these principles. Thus, to allow the people of Nagorny
Karabakh, to which all this concerns, to chose either the territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan or its full self-determination," the minister
said. He added that self-determination means a choice. "It is the
only solution, and, fortunately, its elements are included in the
document. Serious discussions are in process on the possible
referendum and voting. That is why, we see the prospect of
combination of the principles," the minister said. At the request of
journalists, Vardan Oskanyan explained that the referendum applies to
the territory of Nagorny Karabakh and the people that reside and
resided there. Asked if refugees are also taken into account, the
minister said: "There are so many details there that one should not
go into details until the principle is finally determined. It is a
typical example of the principle and the details. For instance, an
agreement to the referendum does not mean anything yet. As dwelling
on the issue, one can get into a confusion: who, when, if refugees
will return, if yes, so when etc.," the minister said.

Asked what can make Armenia refuse from the idea of referendum, the
minister said: "if we are proposed a better alternative – recognition
of Nagorny Karabakh’s independence." Asked if the referendum will
cancel the results of 1991 referendum for independence of NKR, the
minister mentioned that if the international community acknowledged
them, there will be no necessity of the present negotiation process.
At the same time, the minister said that Karabakh conflict is
different from others in the eyes of the international community. "I
think this gives an advantage to Nagorny Karabakh. Everything should
be done to maintain this situation," the minister said.