MP: PROSPEROUS ARMENIA PARTY AGAINST CONCESSIONS OF ARMENIA ON KARABAKH ISSUE

/ ARKA /
April 16
YEREVAN

Coalition Party Prosperous Armenia opposed to unilateral concessions
to Armenia in the Karabakh issue in the name of the Armenian-Turkish
dialogue, the secretary of the faction Prosperous Armenia party Aram
Safarian said.

"Speaking about the unilateral concessions, we mean that the
sovereignty of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic should be recognized, the
independence of Nagorno Karabakh should be recognized in law and on
the international level," he said at a press conference on Friday.

The MP stressed that if Azerbaijan signals about that, then "all
other assignments will be specific tasks that will be settled through
negotiations."

"We expect to recognize independence of Nagorno Karabakh from
Azerbaijan," he said.

Safarian said that "when these signals become available, we will meet
again and discuss it.

The beginning of the Karabakh conflict was settled in 1988, following
a statement to withdraw from Azerbaijan by the predominantly
Armenian-populated Nagorno-Karabakh.

On December 10, 1991 there was held a referendum in Nagorno-Karabakh,
in which 99.89% voted for full independence from Azerbaijan.

Following that Azerbaijan initiated large-scale war fares that led
to a loss of control not only over Nagorno-Karabakh but also seven
adjacent districts.

>From 12th of May of 1994, after the entry of the tripartite agreement
on truce in the conflict zone hostilities, in which around 25-30
thousand people were killed from both sides and nearly 1 million were
forced to flee their homes, were ceased.

The agreement on the establishment of the ceasefire has been followed
until now. From 1992 to date, negotiations are being held for a
peaceful settlement of the conflict within the OSCE Minsk Group
co-chaired by the United States, Russia and France.-0 –