ARMENIA DOES NOT EXCLUDE RECOGNIZING KOSOVO

New Kosova Report
Politics/Armenia-does-not-exclude-recognizing-Koso vo.html
March 13 2008
Sweden

Current prime minister and president-elect of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan,
has not excluded the possibility of recognizing Kosovo independence,
while hoping that this will not undermine the relations with Russia.

"Armenia is dedicated to the realization of the right of people
for self-determination and from this perspective we welcome the
independence of Kosovo," said Sargsyan, adding that the relations with
Russia will not deteriorate if Armenia recognizes Kosovo independence.

According to him, Armenia will not damage its interests, just so it
does not offend its friends. "If we are friends, then we must consider
the interests of both sides," concluded Sargsyan.

Prime minister of Armenia has also stated that he does not see Kosovo
as a precedent for the Armenian-populated enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh,
officially part of Azerbaijan, for which he said Armenia does not
intend to recognize in the near future.