TO HAVE ITS OWN STATEHOOD IS THE RIGHT OF ANY NATION
Ruzan Ishkhanian
http://artsakhtert.com/eng/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=314:t o-have-its-own-statehood-is-the-right-of-any-nation&catid=1:all&Itemid=1
Tuesday, 06 September 2011 09:12
Among the guests, who had arrived in our country for participating
in the festive events dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the NKR
declaration, was Doctor of Historical Sciences Alexander Krylov who
represented the Russian World Economy and International Relations
Institute.
- Mr. Krylov, do you think that such a state as the NKR can
independently exist?
- I don't see any reasons contradicting this. Why it cannot be as
such? It has actually existed for 20 years. From the practical point
of view, the answer is obvious. In the legal context, there are,
surely, certain problems and it is the matter of the future. We'll
see what the near past experience of the unrecognized states show. If
the situation around Karabakh changes, the way to recognition can be
definitely easier than the current one.
- Then why doesn't Russia recognize the independence of Karabakh?
- I think the answer is obvious. It will be strange if Russia
recognizes the independence of Karabakh like Armenia. Armenians will
not understand such interference. So, it is the issue of Armenians.
- Armenia declared on the top level that it didn't recognize the
NKR to avoid impeding the negotiation process.
- The negotiations are conducted with the participation of Armenia,
Azerbaijan, and the mediators. It is much more difficult to explain
why Armenia doesn't recognize than to say why Russia doesn't do
it. It will be strange if Russia recognizes Karabakh earlier than
Armenia. In any case, the situations around Kosovo, Abkhazia, and
South Ossetia were absolutely different from that of Karabakh. And
it should be considered that Russia has quite good and developing
relations with Azerbaijan. To threaten the relations, which are
important for the RF, only for recognizing Karabakh along with South
Ossetia and Abkhazia?... They are different issues.
- The independence of Kosovo was recognized. Do you think it can
serve an example for Karabakh?
- Kosovo was recognized only by one third of the international
community. If taking into account the UN members' number, it really
makes one third. They are the states closely connected with the USA
and European Union. And there are even four EU states, which didn't
recognize Kosovo. In Spain, it is the issue of the Basques; Greece and
Cyprus are in the same condition. There is no common model here. The
question should be put in the following way - why hasn't any nation
the right to its own statehood. Any nation should enjoy this right.
- And how do you imagine the future of today's unrecognized states?
- Abkhazia and South Ossetia are partly recognized. Besides Russia,
they are also recognized by some other states. Their number could
increase if the Russian diplomacy conducted active works in this
direction. But, in fact, it considers that this isn't the priority
direction of its activity in the international arena. It shouldn't be
judged unilaterally. But, it is also understood that Karabakh occupies
a special place in this issue. You probably remember the discussions
around the '3+3' format (3 recognized and 3 unrecognized states).In
due time, Moscow urgently insisted on creating an association of
unrecognized states, including Transdniestria in it, together with the
three unrecognized South Caucasus states. The association was created,
acting up today, but Karabakh refused to join it, because the Armenian
diplomacy didn't want to complicate the relations with the Diaspora
and the West. So, you see that each case has its peculiarity.
- Unfortunately, to date, international law is submitted to the
superpowers' geopolitical interests in the process of conflicts
settlement. Which of these factors do you think will finally prevail?
- It is difficult to say. First of all, the situation changes not
only around Karabakh, but also around the Caucasus region. We see
the tragic events in the Middle East, which can have their impact on
the South Caucasus. How active will Europe be in the South Caucasus
region? In the period of economic crisis, the possibilities of
Europe are decreased. What will the USA policy be? If this state
withdraws from the conflict zones and focus on its domestic issues,
which are quite numerous there, so the situation will change. But, if
the forces available under the rule of Bush the Junior again come to
power and a new cycle of the American discipline starts, aggravation
of the situation is expected. Three years ago, before the August 2008
events, the issue of Russia's recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia
wasn't on the agenda. But, the tragic events had their influence on
the future events. Surely, in case of Karabakh much will depend on the
situation on the Azerbaijani and Karabakh armed forces' contact-line.
If any party resumes the military activities, the situation will
radically change. Different consequences can be expected, including
recognition of Karabakh's independence. So, the factors are different.
Development of different scenarios is possible.
From: A. Papazian
Ruzan Ishkhanian
http://artsakhtert.com/eng/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=314:t o-have-its-own-statehood-is-the-right-of-any-nation&catid=1:all&Itemid=1
Tuesday, 06 September 2011 09:12
Among the guests, who had arrived in our country for participating
in the festive events dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the NKR
declaration, was Doctor of Historical Sciences Alexander Krylov who
represented the Russian World Economy and International Relations
Institute.
- Mr. Krylov, do you think that such a state as the NKR can
independently exist?
- I don't see any reasons contradicting this. Why it cannot be as
such? It has actually existed for 20 years. From the practical point
of view, the answer is obvious. In the legal context, there are,
surely, certain problems and it is the matter of the future. We'll
see what the near past experience of the unrecognized states show. If
the situation around Karabakh changes, the way to recognition can be
definitely easier than the current one.
- Then why doesn't Russia recognize the independence of Karabakh?
- I think the answer is obvious. It will be strange if Russia
recognizes the independence of Karabakh like Armenia. Armenians will
not understand such interference. So, it is the issue of Armenians.
- Armenia declared on the top level that it didn't recognize the
NKR to avoid impeding the negotiation process.
- The negotiations are conducted with the participation of Armenia,
Azerbaijan, and the mediators. It is much more difficult to explain
why Armenia doesn't recognize than to say why Russia doesn't do
it. It will be strange if Russia recognizes Karabakh earlier than
Armenia. In any case, the situations around Kosovo, Abkhazia, and
South Ossetia were absolutely different from that of Karabakh. And
it should be considered that Russia has quite good and developing
relations with Azerbaijan. To threaten the relations, which are
important for the RF, only for recognizing Karabakh along with South
Ossetia and Abkhazia?... They are different issues.
- The independence of Kosovo was recognized. Do you think it can
serve an example for Karabakh?
- Kosovo was recognized only by one third of the international
community. If taking into account the UN members' number, it really
makes one third. They are the states closely connected with the USA
and European Union. And there are even four EU states, which didn't
recognize Kosovo. In Spain, it is the issue of the Basques; Greece and
Cyprus are in the same condition. There is no common model here. The
question should be put in the following way - why hasn't any nation
the right to its own statehood. Any nation should enjoy this right.
- And how do you imagine the future of today's unrecognized states?
- Abkhazia and South Ossetia are partly recognized. Besides Russia,
they are also recognized by some other states. Their number could
increase if the Russian diplomacy conducted active works in this
direction. But, in fact, it considers that this isn't the priority
direction of its activity in the international arena. It shouldn't be
judged unilaterally. But, it is also understood that Karabakh occupies
a special place in this issue. You probably remember the discussions
around the '3+3' format (3 recognized and 3 unrecognized states).In
due time, Moscow urgently insisted on creating an association of
unrecognized states, including Transdniestria in it, together with the
three unrecognized South Caucasus states. The association was created,
acting up today, but Karabakh refused to join it, because the Armenian
diplomacy didn't want to complicate the relations with the Diaspora
and the West. So, you see that each case has its peculiarity.
- Unfortunately, to date, international law is submitted to the
superpowers' geopolitical interests in the process of conflicts
settlement. Which of these factors do you think will finally prevail?
- It is difficult to say. First of all, the situation changes not
only around Karabakh, but also around the Caucasus region. We see
the tragic events in the Middle East, which can have their impact on
the South Caucasus. How active will Europe be in the South Caucasus
region? In the period of economic crisis, the possibilities of
Europe are decreased. What will the USA policy be? If this state
withdraws from the conflict zones and focus on its domestic issues,
which are quite numerous there, so the situation will change. But, if
the forces available under the rule of Bush the Junior again come to
power and a new cycle of the American discipline starts, aggravation
of the situation is expected. Three years ago, before the August 2008
events, the issue of Russia's recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia
wasn't on the agenda. But, the tragic events had their influence on
the future events. Surely, in case of Karabakh much will depend on the
situation on the Azerbaijani and Karabakh armed forces' contact-line.
If any party resumes the military activities, the situation will
radically change. Different consequences can be expected, including
recognition of Karabakh's independence. So, the factors are different.
Development of different scenarios is possible.
From: A. Papazian