ARMENIAN FORMER FOREIGN MINISTER: IF THE NEGOTIATING PROCESS FAILS ARMENIA WILL NO CHOICE BUT TO RECOGNIZE THE NKR

arminfo
2008-08-29 15:45:00

ArmInfo. Armenian former foreign minister Vardan Oskanyan said in
an interview with Azg daily he is sure that Yerevan cannot occupy
the correct position on Russia’s recognition of South Ossetia and
Abkhazia without impartial assessment of the present situation.

He means Russia-USA and Russia-Europe relations and division of the
influence zone. As for Russia’s decision, Oskanyan said it was a
surprise for everybody including to the Russian politologists close
to the Kremlin.

‘Armenians’ negotiating position need not be changed, but ought
to be even more clearly and loudly articulated and reinforced than
ever. Armenia has to make clear very quickly that the only reason
Armenia has not thus far recognized Nagorno Karabakh’s independence
or asked others to is because at core of the ongoing negotiations
is the issue of the self-determination of the people of Nagorno
Karabakh. If this process fails, Armenia should make clear that it
will have no choice but to recognize Nagorno Karabakh. What the
military and political conflict of the last two weeks brought to
the fore is this: One, that the issue of use of force to resolve
ethnic conflicts is unacceptable. Second, a country’s sovereignty
and territorial integrity have become an even greater focus of
attention. This newly emerged situation is a double-edged sword
for Nagorno Karabakh because on the one hand, there will be far less
tolerance for military rhetoric and military action. On the other hand,
we should expect a toughening of the line on self-determination issues
by the international community. Still, just as we’ve said all along,
the Nagorno Karabakh conflict is not like any other conflict. It
has evolved down its own path. Our right to self-determination is
founded not just on legal, historical and political foundations,
but also on the fact that Azerbaijan has repeatedly used force to
impose its jurisdiction on the people of Nagorno Karabakh. We will
continue to defend their rights’, – Oskanayn said.