WILL ARMENIA RECOGNISE NKR INDEPENDENCE?
Karine Asatryan
A1+
[12:43 pm] 23 February, 2009
"The Nagorno Karabakh Republic wants Armenia to recognise NKR
independence and wants to be engaged in the negotiations over the
Karabakh conflict resolution," says Leader of the Heritage faction
Armen Martirosyan. He drew the conclusion after his recent visit to
Nagorno Karabakh. Last week the Heritage Leader paid a two-day visit
to the NKR with the Armenian parliamentary delegation.
"As an independent country Nagorno Karabakh wants to become a side of
negotiations as was before 1998, during Robert Kocharian’s presidency.
Will Karabakhi people agree if the Armenian leadership make concessions
on the Karabakh issue?
I think they won’t. They complain as they are not involved in the
negotiations and in fact do not have the slightest notion of the talks.
May Armenia recognise Karabakh’s independence at present?
I doubt that it is possible. Still a year ago Raffi Hovannisian
submitted to the Armenian parliament a bill on the recognition of NKR
independence. The moment was opportune as the issue of Kosovo, Abkhazia
and South Ossetia was still unsettled. There were all necessary
prerequisites for their recognition and it was urgent that Armenia
recognise Karabakh’s independence first to signal the beginning of
the process of recognitions. But the National Assembly turned it down.
It is already a year since Kosovo proclaimed independence. Over 54
countries have recognised the country’s independence. If Armenia
recognises NKR independence, will the scene of Kosovo repeat here?
We cannot say for sure. But if we work with the countries that have
recognised the Armenian Genocide, they will likely recognise Karabakh’s
independence as well. Besides, the recognition of NKR independence
will benefit Armenia from the legal point of view. Being official
sides of talks, Armenia and Karabakh can sign numerous agreements on
security and economic issues.
Will the Heritage again raise the issue of the recognition of
Karabakh’s independence?
No, as we don’t want the bill to be rejected again. I think it is
needless as last year we realised that our parliamentarians turned
down the bill out of envy or something like that. We don’t want the
bill to have the same fate this year.