ARMENIA NOT READY YET TO RECOGNIZE NAGORNY KARABAKH

ITAR-TASS News Agency
September 3, 2007 Monday 12:30 PM EST
Russia

"It is not time yet for Armenia to recognize self-proclaimed Nagorny
Karabakh," Chief of the Press and Information Department and press
secretary of the Armenian Foreign Ministry Vladimir Karapetyan
declared.

The recognition of Nagorny Karabakh was and remains in the arsenal
of the Armenian foreign policy, Karapetyan said. " The recognition
should take place at the moment when it will be of maximum effect and
promote final settlement of the problem. This moment has not come yet,"
Karapetyan said.

The diplomat spoke in the wake of an initiative put forward by
Nasledije (heritage) opposition bloc in the Armenian parliament
that submitted a bill on Yerevan’s recognition of self-proclaimed
Nagorny Karabakh.

Nagorny Karabakh proclaimed itself independent on September 2,
1991 and since then it has been seeking international recognition
of its independence from Azerbaijan. None of the world countries,
including Armenia that renders political and diplomatic support to
Nagorny Karabakh, has recognized Nagorny Karabakh.