Robert Kocharyan: Armenia may recognize Nagorno-Karabakh

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If Baku continues implementing its current policy, Yerevan will respond by recognition of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and sign with it agreements, particularly, in the defense field. Acting president of Armenia Robert Kocharyan made the statement while talking to journalists on March 20.

REGNUM correspondent quotes Kocharyan to say that present activity of Azerbaijan in international organizations is due to the Kosovo problem. In particular, Azerbaijan is aiming to create a balance to the Kosovo precedent and demonstrate that Kosovo cannot be a precedent for Karabakh. “The NKR has more rights for independence than Kosovo,” Kocharyan stressed, detailing that Karabakh, among other accomplishments, has state organizations, independently guards its borders, and has earlier than Kosovo started the process of gaining independence.

Speaking of the Baku's initiative to dissolve the OSCE Minsk Group, the Armenia's head of state has said the group is the best existing peace and negotiation-facilitating format, as for the moment. “If the Azerbaijani side is not happy with the format, it does not mean that we have to destroy it. If they do not want to negotiate, they are free not to do it,” the Armenian head of state noted. He has added that Baku should rather think of the future and of who will be responsible for the further developments, if its scenario is chosen.