ARMENIA THREATENS TO RECOGNISE AZERBAIJAN’S REBEL REGION
Public Television of Armenia
Nov 23 2009
Asked by "Haylur" how Armenia will behave if tension over the Karabakh
issue really mounts, the spokesman for the Armenian president, Samvel
Farmanyan, said that Armenia may recognize the Artsakh [Karabakh]
republic and sign an agreement on mutual assistance with the second
Armenian republic is events develop in such a way.
[Presenter-reads out Farmanyan’s statement] Yerevan has had occasions
to note that no matter to what extent these statements are made for
domestic consumption, they hardly create a favourable atmosphere
for the settlement process. [Azerbaijani President] Ilham Aliyev’s
statements once again show the non-constructive conduct of Azerbaijan.
Growth of tension around Nagornyy Karabakh is of course the most
undesirable outcome for the whole region, Farmanyan said. However,
Armenia cannot be indifferent to the fate of the people of Artsakh, and
for this very reason the president of the republic [Armenian President
Serzh Sargsyan] and other officials have numerously announced that we
are responsible for the security of the people of Artsakh. There are
accepted ways in case of such developments. Let’s suppose the Republic
of Armenia may recognize the independence of Nagornyy Karabakh with the
consequences stemming from that. Second, Armenia may sign an agreement
on mutual assistance with the Artsakh Republic. There are options and I
am sure that Armenia will use these few options either individually or
[all] at the same time. One should note that Armenia has not done so
[has not recognised Nagornyy Karabakh as independent] for one reason
– so as not to hinder the peace talks. And if the peace talks are
stopped and hostilities resume, nothing will prevent Armenia from
recognizing Artsakh’s independence.
[Presenter-read report] However, according to Farmanyan, the reality is
that the negotiation process continues. Armenia has always announced
that it sees no alternative to the peaceful settlement of the
issue, and that it is possible to reach a peaceful and comprehensive
settlement on the issue though negotiations. The presidential spokesman
also spoke about reports by some Azerbaijani media. According to the
reports, it was said during the Munich meeting that Armenians may pull
out of Kalbacar District by the end of this year to provide Turkey an
opportunity to ratify the Armenian-Turkish protocols and Azerbaijan –
to make its position milder.
[Presenter-reads out Farmanyan’s statement] We have already got used
that after each meeting of the Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents
"extremely informed" sources report about some arrangements which do
not exist in reality. This is mere misinformation and has no connection
with reality. Such an issue is not discussed, and consequently no such
arrangement can exist. It has been numerously said that the key issue
of the negotiation process on the settlement of the conflict and of
the discussions is the issue of the status of Nagornyy Karabakh. All
other issues are secondary.