KONSTANTIN ZATULIN: NAGORNO-KARABAKH TO BE RECOGNIZED SOONER OR LATER

De Facto
Nov 18, 2008

YEREVAN, 18.11.08. DE FACTO. "Nagorno-Karabakh will come to recognition
sooner or later. Karabakh will not return within Azerbaijan",
Konstantin Zatulin, the deputy Chairman of Russia’s State Duma
Committee on CIS Affairs, Director of the Institute of CIS Studies,
stated in the course of a news conference held at the Novosti Press
Center today.

According to Zatulin, Azerbaijanis are also aware of the fact. However,
in his words, the Azerbaijani politicians cannot exceed the established
limits.

Nevertheless, presenting, in his words, Russia’s official stand,
Zatulin noted that Russia was not ready to recognize Nagorno-Karabakh’s
independence, especially taking into consideration that Armenia
had not done it yet. "However, my own stand is as follows: it is
possible not to recognize Nagorno-Karabakh de jure as much as one
likes, however, it de facto exists", Konstantin Zatulin noted. At
that, in Konstantin Zatulin’s words, no one can prove that nations’
right to self-determination yields priority to territorial integrity’s
principle.

Zatulin is sure that the final word rests with people, if they
consistently display their will.