Dashnaktsutyun: recognition of Nagorno-Karabakh republic by Armenia would spur international recognition

YEREVAN, July 28. /ARKA/. Recognition of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic’s independence by Armenia would simplify the process of international recognition, Kiro Manoyan, head of the headquarters of Armenian Revolutionary Federation Dashnaktsutiun’s Hay Dat office, said Wednesday at a news conference.   
 
But he thinks that time has not come yet for the recognition of Karabakh by Armenia.
“This would be considered as an obstacle in the conflict settlement process,” he said. “However, we can work with some countries having no common interests with Azerbaijan or Turkey. Even if one country recognizes the republic, things will begin to move.”

Manoyan thinks that Armenia, taking into account the recent UN International Court’s decision, should intensify its efforts on Karabakh.

“This decision gives us grounds for remind the world that Nagorno-Karabakh Republic has declared its independence in accordance with all the norms of the international law and the then Soviet Union’s laws,” he said.

Karabakh conflict broke out in 1988 when Karabakh, mainly populated by Armenians, declared its independence from Azerbaijan.

On December 10, 1991, a few days after the collapse of the Soviet Union, a referendum took place in Nagorno-Karabakh, and the majority of the population (99.89%) voted for secession from Azerbaijan.

Afterwards, large-scale military operations began. As a result, Azerbaijan lost control over Nagorno-Karabakh and the seven regions adjacent to it.

Some 30,000 people were killed in this war and about one million people fled their homes.  On May 12, 1994, the Bishkek cease-fire agreement put an end to the military operations.

Since 1992, talks brokered by OSCE Minsk Group are being held over peaceful settlement of the conflict. The group is co-chaired by USA, Russia and France. -0--