ARMENIA MUST BE FIRST TO RECOGNIZE NAGORNO-KARABAKH, SCHOLAR SAYS

Tert.am
25.08.11

At his press conference Aug. 25, Suren Zolyan, Rector of Yerevan State
Linguistic University, said that the mediators are showing somewhat
differentiated approaches to the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process.

“Russia recognized independent Abkhazia and South Ossetia. France
and the United States, which are both OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs,
recognized Kosovo. However, they refuse to do the same in the case
of Nagorno-Karabakh,” he said. He does not believe the rumors that
France is going to recognize Nagorno-Karabakh. On the other hand,
he said, such a report may be a means of international pressure on
Azerbaijan to force it into holding constructive negotiations.

“Nagorno-Karabakh’s recognition must always be an issue on the agenda,
including Armenia’s agenda. If Azerbaijan does not withdraw its demands
– ‘withdrawal of Armenian troops from the occupied territories’ as they
qualify it – Armenia must recognize Nagorno-Karabakh’s independence. It
is Armenia that must launch this process,” Zolyan said.

From: A. Papazian