Ghukassian: Western Diplomats should explain why Kosovo OK, NKR Not

DeFacto Agency, Armenia
July 4 2007

ARKADY GHOUKASSIAN: WESTERN DIPLOMATS SHOULD EXPLAIN WHY KOSOVO MUST
BE INDEPENDENT, WHILE NAGORNO-KARABAGH MUST NOT

`’Unfortunately, world elite is not trying to find a legal solution
to the Nagorno-Karabagh conflict, taking the way of political
settlement,’ Nagorno-Karabagh President Arkady Ghoukassian stated,
while delivering a lecture at the Russian-Armenian (Slavonic) State
University in Yerevan July 3. He also noted Stepanakert was not
against political settlement; however, the legal base might
contribute to rendering decision.
`Kosovo’s example encourages us, and it does not matter how hard we
are being convinced that it cannot be a precedent for other
unrecognized republics, it is not in logical frames,’ Arkady
Ghoukassian noted, adding the world avoided precedents. `It is much
easier for the world powers to act according to already existing
standards than to create the new ones. Besides, recognition of
Kosovo’s independence may become a cause for the creation of new
conflicts, while the world community does not want it to take place.
I am sure Nagorno-Karabagh has more reasons to strive for
independence than Kosovo,’ Nagorno-Karabagh President stated.
He reminded that western diplomacy considered that Kosovo could not
be a precedent for other unrecognized republics, however, Russia is
adherent to the opposite stand. `Western diplomats should explain why
Kosovo can be independent, while Nagorno-Karabagh cannot,’ Arkady
Ghoukassian stated. For Nagorno-Karabagh independence and
establishment of statehood was not an end in itself. `We did not want
to prove we can do it. Statehood is inevitability for defending
borders and mobilizing our resources to protect it,’ Arkady
Ghoukassian said, IA Regnum reports.