KIRO MANOYAN: MINSK GROUP CONSIDERS NK CANNOT BE UNDER AZERBAIJANI JURISDICTION

armradio.am
16.09.2008 17:10

The OSCE Minsk Group co-chair countries have come to the conclusion
that Nagorno Karabakh cannot be under the jurisdiction of Azerbaijan,
Head of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Bureau’s Hay Dat
and Political Affairs Office Kiro Manoyan told a press conference
today, noting that it forces Azerbaijan and Turkey say that the Minsk
Group format has exhausted itself. According to his assessment,
the adoption of the fact by the co-chair countries is a result of
ten years of negotiations.

The three countries have in some way confirmed the right for
self-determination. Two of them – the United States and France – have
recognized the independence of Kosovo. Russia has recognized the right
for self-determination of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. "Actually, the
three co-char countries have confirmed that the principle is respected
in international law. If Armenia sees that the negotiations produce
no result, it should recognize the independence of Nagorno Karabakh,"
Kiro Manoyan said.

He noted also that despite the strained US-Russia relations, there
is no shift in the positions of those countries on the Karabakh
issue. Karabakh is the issue on which both the West and Russia are
ready to cooperate.

According to him, the mediators will constantly stress the necessity
of solving the Karabakh issue in a peaceful manner.

Speaking about the breakthrough in the Armenian-Turkish relations, Kiro
Manoyan said Turkey can take very rapid steps (e.g. open the border),
which will demonstrate that its policy towards Armenia is changing.

Kiro Manoyan considers there can be progress in the recognition of
the Armenian Genocide by the US if Democrat candidate Barack Obama
wins in the polls. With all his positive attitude towards Armenia,
Republican candidate McCain is very sensitive towards Turkey, and it
will be hard to anticipate progress sin case he is elected.