DOOMED TO FAILURE

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
Published on July 15, 2008
Armenia

The Nagorno Karabakh Republic proclaimed its independence in strict
compliance with the norms of international law and the existing
legislation of the USSR, the Russian Federation being its legal
successor.

This statement was made by NKR Foreign Minister George Petrosyan
in response to the speculations over settling the Karabakh conflict
based on the principles of the territorial integrity and the immunity
of the borders of the states.

"The attempts of the Azerbaijani leadership to restore the
obsolete borders of the Stalin era create an additional tension
over the Karabakh issue and may only lead to the exacerbation of
the conflict. Such was the situation in the late-1980’s and the
early-1990’s when the international community recognized the results
of the independence ‘referendum’ held in Azerbaijan (without the
participation of the people of Karabakh) but refused to admit the
results of a similar referendum held in Karabakh before that.

In the estimation of the Minister, independence is an absolute value
for the people of Nagorno Karabakh, and they have no intention
to waive it. "We believe the responsible international community
perfectly realizes that.

Many a time have we announced that any attempt of returning Karabakh
and its people to the past and thus restricting their freedom is
not only ineffective but also doomed to failure," the NKR Foreign
Minister said.