ARMENIA SHOULD RECOGNIZE KARABAKH INDEPENDENCE

PanARMENIAN.Net
13.03.2008 16:57 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia should recognize independence of Nagorno
Karabakh but not the right of Karabakhi people to self-determination,
former NKR Foreign Minister Arman Melikyan said.

"Many opponents do not recognize Karabakh, noting ironically that
Armenia itself doesn’t do it. We should recognize independence of
Nagorno Karabakh and I am confident that this motion will gain
support," Melikyan told "Kosovo precedent. Can it be applied to
Artsakh?" seminar.

After Armenia’s recognition of NKR independence, Karabakh’s borders
should be fixed, according to him.

"Our problems began when Armenia agreed to territorial haggle. But
we can’t cede territories which belong to Karabakh by law," Melikyan
said, reminding of 500 thousand of Armenian refugees from Azerbaijan.

"These people should live on a territory controlled legally by the
NKR and should be granted citizenship.

>From the standpoint of international law, the Kosovo precedent offers
Armenia a possibility to ground its moves," he said.

"We should decide whether Karabakh is an independent state or a part
of Armenia," he emphasized, Novosti Armenia reports.