Interfax, Russia
Sept 4 2008

ARMENIA EXPLAINS NONRECOGNITION OF S. OSSETIA, ABKHAZIA

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan said his country cannot recognize
the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia because the Nagorno-
Karabakh problem remains unsolved.

"Why does Armenia not recognize the independence of Abkhazia and South
Ossetia? For the reason it has not recognized the independence of
Kosovo. Because of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Armenia cannot
recognize an entity that is in the same situation before Nagorno-
Karabakh is recognized," Sargsyan said at a meeting of ambassadors and
other senior Armenian diplomats posted abroad.

"We must convince Azerbaijan in a peaceful way that recognition of the
right of peoples to self-determination is inevitable," he said.

The president also said the conflict in Georgia had dealt a blow to
the Armenian economy.

"We have repeatedly stressed that the Armenian economy vitally needs a
peaceful region for its development," he said.

Armenian Foreign Minister Edvard Nalbandian told reporters that
"conflicts must be resolved in a peaceful way" and that "in conflicts
of this kind the right of peoples and nations to self-determination
must be respected unconditionally."

There are an increasing number of exceptions, which are not defined as
international precedents, in the settlement of regional conflicts,
Sargsyan told foreign diplomats.

"Let them say that Kosovo is not a precedent. Some may say that
Abkhazia and South Ossetia are not a precedent either. However, the
increasing number of exceptions, which are not defined as
international precedents, is a fact," he said.

"Just recall the events, which have taken place over a brief period of
time, – East Timor, Kosovo, Abkhazia and South Ossetia. I could
certainly add more names to this list, but short as it is, this list
is enough. The will of people expressed at a referendum becomes the
main factor, the final circumstance everywhere," Sargsyan said.