SETTLEMENT OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT POSSIBLE ONLY AFTER RECOGNITION OF SELF-DETERMINATION RIGHT OF NKR’S PEOPLE
Arka News Agency, Armenia
June 6 2007
YEREVAN, June 5. /ARKA/. The settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
is possible only after the self-determination right of the people
of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) is recognized, Armenian Foreign
Minister Vardan Oskanian told a press-conference held jointly with
the Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos.
"The issue of the self-determination right of NKR’s people is the
fundamental principle in the settlement of Karabakh conflict for
Armenia. The discussion of other issues is impossible if this right
is not secured," the Minister said.
According to him, the Karabakh conflict started because of the
self-determination right of NKR’s people, with the other issues having
occurred later as a result of the war started by Azerbaijan and the
military suppression of the peaceful intention of self-determining.
Under current conditions the Karabakh conflict can be solved only if
the people of NKR gets the chance to achieve self-determination, which
will automatically lead to settlement of other problems, Oskanian said.
The Karabakh conflict started in 1988 when Nagorno-Karabakh
predominantly populated by Armenians declared its withdrawal from
Azerbaijan. On December 10 1991 a referendum was held in Karabakh in
the presence of international observers where overwhelming majority –
99.89% – of the population voted for full independence from Azerbaijan.
In response Azerbaijan launched a war against Nagorno-Karabakh.
Active military operations were ceased on May 12 1994 after the
agreement on cease-fire was sighed.
Since 1992 up to now negotiations have been held on peaceful settlement
of the conflict under patronage of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chaired
by U.S., Russian and French representatives.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
