ARMENIA CAN’T RECOGNIZE ABKHAZIA AND SOUTH OSSETIA BEFORE IT RECOGNIZES KARABAKH

PanARMENIAN.Net
11.11.2008 14:01 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Europe should declare that one of the sides in the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict undermines the peace process, the Armenian
President said.

"In case with Kosovo the right of nations to self-determination
was applied. However, Russia’s similar step was given a hostile
reception," Serzh Sargsyan said in an interview with Frankfurter
Allgemeine Zeitung.

At that he noted that Armenia has no right to recognize independence
of Abkhazia and South Ossetia before it recognizes Nagorno
Karabakh. "Recognition of independence is the last step in the
process. We are not strong enough to recognize Karabakh unilaterally,"
he said.

Commenting on Armenia’s cooperation with NATO, President Sargsyan
said the republic does not intend to join the Alliance. "We are
convinced that cooperation with NATO is a part of our security
system. However, drawing new dividing lines in this region would be
extremely dangerous. This is the lesson derived from the Georgian
war. Our policy has always been to find a balance between U.S.,
Russian and NATO interests, although it seems attractive to get
benefits from their opposition," he said.