OBSERVER FROM RUSSIA: IT IS TIME FOR INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH’S INDEPENDENCE

DeFacto, Armenia
July 20 2007

It is time for the international community to recognize NKR’s
independence, a member of Russian observation delegation, principal
research worker of the Institute of World Economy and International
Relations of Russian Academy of Sciences Professor Victor Shejnis
stated July 20, on the outcomes of the presidential elections held
in NKR.

In his words, some international organizations assert they do not
recognize elections in Nagorno-Karabakh, though Stepanakert has all
legal grounds of an independent state. He noted uncertainty around
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict might result in destabilization in the
region. In his words, the stand of the supporters of recognition of
Nagorno-Karabakh’s independence is often considered as pro-Armenian
and anti-Azerbaijani. Shejnis agreed that it was a pro-Armenian stand,
however, it cannot be considered anti-Azerbaijani, especially taking
into consideration the fact that the interests of Azerbaijani people
do not come to imposing their will on Stepanakert, as it used to be
in Soviet period before the beginning of the conflict.

In his turn, a deputy of RF State Duma, Director of CIS Institute
Konstantin Zatoulin, drawing parallels between Kosovo and Karabakh,
stated irrespective of the fact if the international community would
consider Kosovo issue’s settlement to be a precedent or not, for
other such territories it will be a chance to draw the international
community’s attention to their problems. "The reality is such that
despite Russia’s stand, Kosovo will be recognized independent de facto;
both NKR and Kosovo have a chance".