ROBERT KOCHARIAN: "IF AZERBAIJAN GOES ON LIKE THIS ARMENIA’S NEXT STEP SHOULD BE RECOGNITION OF NKR’S INDEPENDENCE"

DeFacto Agency
March 21 2008
Armenia

YEREVAN, 21.03.08. DE FACTO. "There is no better format for the talks
than the OSCE MG. However, it does not mean that unless Azerbaijan
recognizes the format we’ll cling to it", the RA President Robert
Kocharian stated in the course of a press conference. "We are always
ready for the talks and believe it is the only way to resolve the
issue".

In the President’s words, Karabakh has much more reasons to be
independent than Kosovo. NKR declared its independence in September,
1992, a referendum was held in December, nowadays all structures
of state power function, and Karabakh defended its independence and
territorial integrity by its own forces. "I think the talks are more
important for Azerbaijan than for us", Robert Kocharian noted. "If
they go on like this, our next step should be the recognition of
Karabakh’s independence and signing corresponding treaties. At least,
I would undertake such steps".

Speaking of the skirmish that took place on the NKR and Azerbaijani
Armed Forces’ contact line on March 4, the RA President stated
Azerbaijan had made an attempt to check our strength. "I have no doubts
that being confident of weakness of Armenia and NKR, which is enough
to achieve success, Azerbaijan is sure to climb to such success",
the President noted. As for the U. N. Resolution, according to the
President, Azerbaijan intended to create some counterbalance to the
Kosovo precedent by means of a document testifying to the fact that
the precedent bears no relation to Karabakh.

On the eve of abolition of a state of emergency in Yerevan Armenian
President shared some conclusions he had deduced during the last twenty
days. First of all the President voiced assurance that introduction of
the state of emergency had enabled to avoid big losses and stabilize
the situation. During the whole period no violations of the state of
emergency were registered.

At present, on the ground of actual materials one can state that mass
disorders were organized. In the President’s words, there is no doubt
about it. Robert Kocharian also noted that in the near future some
cases would be submitted to the court.

If new attempts to conduct unapproved meetings and processions will
be made after the abolition of the state of emergency the Police have
to terminate them without delay.

Commenting on some items of the PACE statement made on the ground of
conclusions of the PACE monitoring group headed by John Prescott,
in part, concerning releasing perpetrators of grave crimes, Robert
Kocharian noted, "Then what should be done with perpetrators of
crimes of middle gravity? If we really want to have an organized
law-enforcement system investigation should go the whole length of
it and case be submitted to the court".

The President has no doubts that the events have negatively influenced
on the influx of investments, however, he does not think that the
influence is irreversible. Business circles should be sure that
economic policy will not be subject to sharp changes and economy
game rules will be stable. The President reminded the situation
after October 27, 1999. Then, according to the results of the first
half-year, economic growth in Armenia made 0%. However, undertaking
precise measures in May, by the end of the year the economic growth’s
annual index reached 6%. The President is sure that unless there are
investments, if the state takes consecutive steps, then in several
months one will be able to speak of normal investment climate and
finish the year with good economic indices.