ARMENIAN LATE FOREIGN MINISTER: RECOGNITION OF NAGORNY KARABAKH INDEPENDENCE SHOULD REMAIN IN THE ARSENAL OF FOREIGN POLICY OF THE COUNTRY

ArmInfo
2008-10-01 14:30:00

ArmInfo. Armenian leadership has reiterated many times that every
conflict should be observed separately, late Armenian Foreign Minister
Vardan Oskanyan said at today’s briefing when replying the question
regarding recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia by Russia and
its possible affecting the Karabakh conflict settlement.

‘We have about unigue nature of the Karabakh conflict taking into
consideration the above mentioned and the situation set over the last
years’, – the former minister said and added that recent events and the
view of the world community in this context are dictating the necessity
of making important stresses. He also added two circumstance may be
distinguished as a result of recent events – application of force and
the problem of territorial integrity. Russia grounded that Georgia has
applied force towards Abkhazia and South Ossetia, for this reason their
independence is inevitable. Such assessment of Russia was contradicted
to the opinion of the world community, Oskanyan said. ‘Taking all
this into account, we must put stresses in the Karabakh issue. First,
Armenia does not recognize independence of Nagorny Karabakk and has no
intention to do that as long as the negotiations are held on the basis
Karabakh people’s right to self-determination. We want to achieve
that through negotiations’, V. Oskanyan said. Another grounding is
that Azerbaijan had already applied force and resorted to ethnic purge
with regard to Karabakh people to ensure it territorial integrity. At
the same time, the ex-foreign minister said recognition of NKR’s
independence must be in the arsenal of Armenia’s foreign policy,
which must be repeatedly mentioned both for Azerbaijan and the world
community. ‘But this weapon must be used at the proper moment. I think,
it is not time for it yet’, V. Oskanyan said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress