Crimea Referendum To Put Karabakh Into Focus: Expert

CRIMEA REFERENDUM TO PUT KARABAKH INTO FOCUS: EXPERT

March 3, 2014 – 17:53 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Decision to protect Crimea’s Russian population,
taken under complicated circumstances, marked an important tendency
in Moscow’s understanding of the norms of international law, a member
of the International Law Association of Russia said.

As Denis Dvornikov told PanARMENIAN.Net for many decades, the dispute
over the precedence of the nations’ right to self-determination versus
territorial integrity was politicized, leading many negotiations to
a standstill.

“After Russia’s recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, political
acknowledgement of Crimeans’ right to decide their own fate marked a
clear tendency in the international law enforcement practice. Thus,
Russia confirmed that at least in post-Soviet space, peoples’ right
to self-determination takes precedence,” the expert said, noting that
there are no premises for major hostilities in Ukraine.

“Same is true for Karabakh,” the expert noted. “In present-day
situation, Russia is likely to recognize the Nagorno Karabakh Republic
sooner than Armenia does. This is the reason why backing Crimeans’
right for self-determination at the oncoming forum will bring Kahabakh
issue into focus, considering many historic similarities – Soviet
leadership’s thoughtless transfer of aboriginal lands of one nation
to another republic, lengthy struggle for independence and peaceful
co-existence with neighboring countries,” Dvornikov noted.

“After the Crimea-related issues, time must come for unequivocal
and uncompromising decisions on the Nagorno Karabakh. Otherwise,
consistency and objectivity of Russia’s decisions will be questioned,”
the expert concluded.

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From: Mihran Keheyian
Subject: Crimea referendum to put Karabakh into focus: expert

Crimea referendum to put Karabakh into focus: expert

March 3, 2014 – 17:53 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Decision to protect Crimea’s Russian population,
taken under complicated circumstances, marked an important tendency in
Moscow’s understanding of the norms of international law, a member of
the International Law Association of Russia said.

As Denis Dvornikov told PanARMENIAN.Net for many decades, the dispute
over the precedence of the nations’ right to self-determination versus
territorial integrity was politicized, leading many negotiations to a
standstill.

“After Russia’s recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, political
acknowledgement of Crimeans’ right to decide their own fate marked a
clear tendency in the international law enforcement practice. Thus,
Russia confirmed that at least in post-Soviet space, peoples’ right to
self-determination takes precedence,” the expert said, noting that
there are no premises for major hostilities in Ukraine.

“Same is true for Karabakh,” the expert noted. “In present-day
situation, Russia is likely to recognize the Nagorno Karabakh Republic
sooner than Armenia does. This is the reason why backing Crimeans’
right for self-determination at the oncoming forum will bring Kahabakh
issue into focus, considering many historic similarities – Soviet
leadership’s thoughtless transfer of aboriginal lands of one nation to
another republic, lengthy struggle for independence and peaceful
co-existence with neighboring countries,” Dvornikov noted.

“After the Crimea-related issues, time must come for unequivocal and
uncompromising decisions on the Nagorno Karabakh. Otherwise,
consistency and objectivity of Russia’s decisions will be questioned,”
the expert concluded.