"KOSOVO AND ARTSAKH HAVE DIFFERENT HISTORICAL PAST," LEVON MELIK-SHAHNAZARIAN BELIEVES.

Noyan Tapan
Feb 22, 2008

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 22, NOYAN TAPAN. The historical part of Kosovo,
having no parallel with the Karabakh problem, is much more like the
history of Nakhijevan, when strong states decided to artificially
join territories to the country, they found fit for. This point of
view was expressed by internationalist Levon Melik-Shahnazarian
at the press conference held on February 22. According to him,
Armenia should not recognize the independence of Kosovo, as that
will mean "to fish the recognition of the independence of Artsakh
in troubled waters." In the words of Levon Melik-Shahnazarian, the
self-determination of Kosovo contradicts the historical ethics, that
independence was obtained through unfair ways and can be considered
as a manifestation of separatism.

"Listening to the explanations of the representatives of the 15 states,
which have recognized the independence of Kosovo, I understood that
the world is not led by laws: states make decisions taking into
consideration their own interests," the internationalist said. He
quoted the words of the representative of France, according to
which Kosovo should be independent of Serbia, as the peoples of the
two countries are bearers of different cultures and as under the
tenure of former President of Serbia Slobodan Miloshevich people
suffered privations in Kosovo. These two grounds, according to Levon
Melik-Shahnazarian, are very peculiar to the Karabakh conflict. "If
after all this the world does not recognize the independence of
Artsakh, that will be an immorality," he said.