PEOPLE OF KARABAKH WILL HAVE A CHOICE

Lragir, Armenia
Dec 18 2007

The Armenian side says the proposals extended to the sides of the
Karabakh conflict after the OSCE ministerial meeting in Madrid
are based on the right for self-determination of Karabakh, while
the Azerbaijani side claims it is the right of self-determination
within Azerbaijan. In a news conference on December 18 the Armenian
reporters asked the Armenian foreign minister Vardan Oskanyan whose
statements might be true. The minister did not answer this question
but he said the stance of the Azerbaijani side might be a good wish,
but they should not predetermine how the people of Karabakh should
self-determinate before this self-determination.

"There have been cases in international relations when a nation
self-determinates within another country. The best example is
that of Quebec. Nobody can say that the people of Quebec did not
self-determinate. They did, and they voted 50 percent plus decided
to remain part of Canada. I understand it terms of good wish. Why not?

The Azerbaijanis have a good chance when the agreement is signed,
normal conditions are provided, people communicate, and if they
guarantee that the oil money will be spent for a proper purpose,
the country will prosper, why not when the time of the referendum
comes, the people of Nagorno-Karabakh will stand a good chance,"
Vardan Oskanyan says.