Interfax, Russia
Aug 22 2008

NATION’S RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION CANNOT BE IMPEDED BY FORCE

Any attempt to use force in order to impede the exercise of self-
determination by the people of South Caucasus may have serious
military and political implications.

The tragic events in South Ossetia have shown that any attempt to use
armed force to suppress the desire for self-determination in the South
Caucasus may have serious military and political consequences,
Sargsyan said at a meeting with defense ministers of the CSTO
(Collective Security Treaty Organization) countries in Yerevan, the
Armenian president’s press office told Interfax.

Such conflicts must be settled on the basis of free will of the people
fighting for self-determination, he said.

Otherwise, we will witness acts of ethnic cleansing and violation of
international humanitarian law, said the Armenian president.

Yerevan has repeatedly pointed to the danger of unprecedented military
build-up by some countries in the region and attempts to use force in
resolving conflicts, he said.

The military way of conflict resolution has no prospects, and the
events in the South Caucasus will have a sobering effect on those who
still foster illusions about forceful resolution, the president said.

Sargsyan welcomed the joint initiative of the Russian and French
presidents on the six principles of the South Ossetian conflict
resolution.