Interfax News Agency, Russia
April 4 2008

Armenia may soon recognize Karabakh’s independence – Kocharian

YEREVAN April 4

Armenian President Robert Kocharian has not ruled out the possibility
that Armenia will soon recognize the independence of breakaway region
Nagorno Karabakh.

"Azerbaijan’s behavior at the negotiations, its latest steps, are
forcing the Armenian side to take resolute action. What steps these
are going to be – the recognition of independence, an agreement in
the sphere of defense or any other – is for the newly elected
president of Armenia to decide," Kocharian said commenting on the
statement made at the Bucharest summit on Thursday by Azerbaijani
Foreign Minister Elmar Mamedyarov, that the question of negotiations
depends on the views of Yerevan.

Armenian Public TV quoted Kocharian as saying that "lately Azerbaijan
has been trying to use the internal situation in Armenia to influence
the negotiating process."

"This is forcing the Armenian side to be resolute on fundamental
issues. There can be no new concessions or changes of approach," he
said.

"Stability, the speed of development and the strength of Armenia are
guarantees of its stable approach to the question of Karabakh," he
said.

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