BAKU: Recognition of Kosovo Independence Cannot be Precedent for NK

TREND News Agency, Azerbaijan
Feb 18 2008

Recognition of Kosovo’s Independence Cannot be a Precedent for
Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict Settlement – political scientist
18.02.08 11:08

Azerbaijan, Baku, 18 February / Trend News corr E. Huseynli /
According to the political scientist Aydin Mirzazade, a member of the
Azerbaijani delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council
of Europe (PACE), recognition of Kosovo’s independence cannot be a
precedent for the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
`Regardless of statements made by Serj Sarkisian and other Armenian
officials, the international community does not recognize
Nagorno-Karabakh as an independent state,’ Mirzazade said to Trend on
17 February.

Prime Minister Serj Sarkisian, a presidential candidate in Armenia,
welcomes the self-determination of Kosovo and believes that it can be
a precedent for the settling of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

`If the international community recognizes Kosovo’s independence and
does not recognize the independence of the Nagorno-Karabakh, that
will prove that the international community applies double
standards,’ Sarkisian said to Reuters. `But that does not mean at all
that the day after self-determination of Kosovo Armenia will
recognize the independence of Nagorno-Karabakh,’ he said.

According to Mirzazade, the occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh by Armenia
is confirmed in enough documents by international organizations and
the world confirms the occupation of the Azerbaijani territory. From
this standpoint it is illogical to draw a parallel between Kosovo and
Nagorno-Karabakh problems.

`It is still unknown whether Kosovo will be recognized as an
independent sate,’ Mirzazade said.