THE SELF-DETERMINATION RIGHT OF THE PEOPLE OF KARABAKH MUST BE RECOGNIZED, STATES ARMENIAN PRESIDENT

AZG Armenian Daily
23/09/2008

Karabakh conflict

During a meeting with representatives of European press on September
20 President of Armenia Serge Sargsian stated that the right of the
people of Karabakh for self-determination must be recognized.

Being asked which is the uttermost compromise to which Armenia is
ready in its relations with Azerbaijan and whether Armenia admits
Karabakh’s inclusion in Azerbaijan, President Sargsian said, "We have
stated our conditions already 14 years ago, when signing armistice
agreement with Azerbaijan, and many times after. We insist that right
of the people of Karabakh for self-determination must be recognized

The people of Nagorno-Karabakh has lived on those lands for thousands
of years, and now we must ensure safe existence for that people. In
the Soviet times, when Karabakh was included in Azerbaijan, became
clear that the secure existence of the Armenian people of Karabakh
is impossible under the jurisdiction of Azerbaijan. The theoretic
question whether Karabakh may become subject of Azerbaijan or no,
can be easily solved by referendum. But I am sure that at least in
the near future the people of Karabakh will not agree to bear the
Azerbaijani rule. I have said to Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev
that in case Azerbaijan is really interested in peace and security in
Nagorno-Karabakh, it should make serious investments in the economy
of Karabakh and convince its people that Azerbaijan can become the
warrantee of peace and prosperity of the people of Karabakh. If
some day Karabakh undergoes the jurisdiction of Azerbaijan, by
chance or however, short after there will be no Armenians left on
that territory."

Answering why Armenia has not recognized the independence of of South
Ossetia and Abkhazia and whether Armenia is ready to recognize Karabakh
officially, the President said that Armenia does not consider that
opportunity yet.

"Still, there is nothing impossible," the President said, "it may
sound strange that Armenia, although Armenia having always advocated
the peoples’ right for self-determination, has not yet recognized the
independence of Kosovo, South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Nevertheless,
our stance is clear: we have a similar problem, the problem of
Nagorno-Karabakh. We cannot adopt the independence of those states
before we have recognized Karabakh. And why we haven’t recognized
Karabakh yet? That is because we are now engaged in negotiation process
with Azerbaijan and we are eager to settle the matter peacefully. If
you remember, when referring to Kosovo and other issues, it was always
said that recognizing the independence is the last means. If there
is no other way, Armenia will recognize Nagorno-Karabakh".