CREATION OF FIRM LEGAL AND INSTITUTIONAL BASES IN NKR WILL CONTRIBUTE TO PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT OF NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT, VARTAN OSKANIAN CONSIDERS

Noyan Tapan
Dec 19 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 19, NOYAN TAPAN. "The referendum on NKR Constitution
will not have any impact on the negotiations process on settlement
of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict." Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan
Oskanian declared this at the December 19 press conference. At
the same time, in his words, the firmer the legal, economic and
institutional bases in Nagorno Karabakh are, the more confident the
NKR people and authorities will feel and the more real the possibility
of achieving compromise and peaceful settlement of the conflict will
be. "Presidential and parliamentary elections in NKR, creation of
firm institutional bases – all this will contribute to settlement of
the Nagorno Karabakh problem, as all this contributes to raising of
confidence to NKR. And some facts become irrevocable and Azerbaijan
irrespective of its willingness has to take this into account. Besides,
all these moments will be reflected in the document on the peaceful
settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and without fail will
have their positive influence," V.Oskanian declared. He expressed
bewilderment and disagreement with "exact and sharp" determinations
given in statements of a number of international organizations in
connection with the NKR referendum and in particular, their opinion
that the referendum will impede the negotiations. "We absolutely
disagree to this and consider that it is quite the contrary. Besides,
it has been repeatedly said that these organizations should avoid
such determinations," the Minister said.