NKR NOT READY FOR TERRITORIAL CONCESSIONS

news.am
Nov 3 2009
Armenia

Karabakh’s territory is the territory stipulated by NKR’s Constitution
and we are not ready to make any concessions in this regard. By ‘the
territory’ we mean the present actual territory of Artsakh. This is
our standpoint and we will stick to it," Ara Harutunyan, NKR Prime
Minister and Leader of "Azat Hayrenik" (Free Motherland) party,
told journalists.

Concerning the Madrid principles on settlement of the Karabakh
conflict, he said Artsakh has not received the document officially,
and "we know about them [the principles] only from press and news –
which cannot be considered as document."

"Both NKR and Armenia’s Presidents have stated that any document
would be signed by both authorities only when the nation approves
it. We have no right to doubt this – as the people has the final say"
the Premier stated.

As concerns the Armenia-Turkey normalization process, Harutunyan
admitted that Karabakh has some expectations in this regard, and
particularly economic ones – as Armenia’s economic development implies
NKR’s one as well.

"We all know that it will enable the country to develop. However,
this should happen without preconditions. Opening of the border does
not mean that the preconditions and claims are accepted," maintains
Harutunyan. He underlined that "Azat Hayrenik" absolutely trusts
RA President’s line. "His 20-years-old experience makes us believe
that every step that President of Armenia makes is well-balanced and
reasoned," he stated.