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RUSSIA TO RECOGNIZE KARABAKH IF YEREVAN DOES - EX-ARMENIAN DEFENCE OFFICIAL
A1+
Nov 4 2009
Armenia
Former Armenian deputy defence minister Vahan Shirkhanyan believes
Russia will recognize Azerbaijan's breakaway Nagornyy Karabakh as an
independent state if Armenia recognizes it, A1plus website reported
on 4 November.
"We have always said that Armenia should recognize independence of
the NKR [the Nagornyy Karabakh republic]. I believe that the Russian
Federation will recognize independence of the NKR after Armenia
recognizes it," A1plus quoted Shirkhanyan as saying.
The former deputy defence minister also believes that the USA is making
efforts for the ratification of the Armenian-Turkish protocols on
establishing diplomatic relations through putting pressure upon Turkey
via raising the issue of the Armenian genocide in the US Congress
and through putting pressure on Azerbaijan, the website reported.
"The USA will be the side that benefits most from the improvement
of Armenian-Turkish relations. The opening of the Armenian-Turkish
border is of strategic importance for the USA," Shirkhanyan said.
Shirkhanyan downplayed the recent statement by EU Special
Representative for South Caucasus Peter Semneby, who had said that the
issue of Karabakh's status is not discussed at present, saying that
"statements of the leaders of the [OSCE Minsk Group] co-chair countries
are more important than of Semneby's, who said that the issue of
Nagornyy Karabakh's status is being discussed", the website reported.
Shirkhanyan believes "it is impossible to settle the Nagornyy Karabakh
issue without solving the status of the NKR", the website reported.
The former deputy defence minister also believes it is impossible to
open the Armenian-Turkish border without settlement of the Karabakh
issue. Shirkhanyan said in this regard: "If they want a road from
Ankara to Baku at present, this road will pass through Meghri [a
town in Armenia's Syunik Region, close to Armenian-Iranian border]
and territories liberated by us are on the other side of Meghri. This
road will not operate if the Karabakh issue is not settled," A1plus
reported.
The former deputy defence minister rules out opening of the
Armenian-Turkish border in the near future and believes that the
current statements of the USA, Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan are
aimed at domestic audiences, the website reported.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
A1+
Nov 4 2009
Armenia
Former Armenian deputy defence minister Vahan Shirkhanyan believes
Russia will recognize Azerbaijan's breakaway Nagornyy Karabakh as an
independent state if Armenia recognizes it, A1plus website reported
on 4 November.
"We have always said that Armenia should recognize independence of
the NKR [the Nagornyy Karabakh republic]. I believe that the Russian
Federation will recognize independence of the NKR after Armenia
recognizes it," A1plus quoted Shirkhanyan as saying.
The former deputy defence minister also believes that the USA is making
efforts for the ratification of the Armenian-Turkish protocols on
establishing diplomatic relations through putting pressure upon Turkey
via raising the issue of the Armenian genocide in the US Congress
and through putting pressure on Azerbaijan, the website reported.
"The USA will be the side that benefits most from the improvement
of Armenian-Turkish relations. The opening of the Armenian-Turkish
border is of strategic importance for the USA," Shirkhanyan said.
Shirkhanyan downplayed the recent statement by EU Special
Representative for South Caucasus Peter Semneby, who had said that the
issue of Karabakh's status is not discussed at present, saying that
"statements of the leaders of the [OSCE Minsk Group] co-chair countries
are more important than of Semneby's, who said that the issue of
Nagornyy Karabakh's status is being discussed", the website reported.
Shirkhanyan believes "it is impossible to settle the Nagornyy Karabakh
issue without solving the status of the NKR", the website reported.
The former deputy defence minister also believes it is impossible to
open the Armenian-Turkish border without settlement of the Karabakh
issue. Shirkhanyan said in this regard: "If they want a road from
Ankara to Baku at present, this road will pass through Meghri [a
town in Armenia's Syunik Region, close to Armenian-Iranian border]
and territories liberated by us are on the other side of Meghri. This
road will not operate if the Karabakh issue is not settled," A1plus
reported.
The former deputy defence minister rules out opening of the
Armenian-Turkish border in the near future and believes that the
current statements of the USA, Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan are
aimed at domestic audiences, the website reported.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress