Armenian parliament likely to raise issue of recognition of independence of the so-called "NKR"

The situation around the resolution of the Karabakh conflict raises some thoughts, but it is not as much complicated, as it is described by former Armenian President Levon Ter-Petrosyan, said Artashes Shahbazyan, deputy of the parliamentary faction of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Dashnaktsusun, commenting on the announcement, made by first president at a meeting of opposition, held on October 17.

The deputy noted that the Armenian parliament will raise the issue of recognition of independence of "Nagorno Karabakh" in the future. "We have repeatedly spoken of the need to take this step, especially if all opportunities for the negotiation process are exhausted", noted Shahbazyan.

He considers that the recognition of independence of "NKR" breeds many tasks. "It would be more reasonably to judge not how fast the recognition goes, but how timely it is", said he. According to the Dashnak deputy, the issue of recognition of the so-called "Nagorno Karabakh Republic", should always be on the agenda of Armenia.

Shahbazyan also did not agree with Ter-Petrosyan's statement that Armenia is changing the external political orientation towards the West.

"I would not make such conclusions, as I do not think that Armenia may reserve its orientation. And why should it turn towards the West so unexpectedly", asks the deputy.

He noted that the balance in the external political orientation implies preservation of balanced relations with new countries. He did not exclude possible appearance of new shades, new agreements, creation of new fields for cooperation with any structures, noting that along with it Armenia has other goals, especially, preservation of partner relations with Russia.

"Relations with Russia remain friendly and we are bound to it with many issues, both cooperation in the CIS framework and the bilateral military and economic cooperation", said Shahbazyan, stressing that relations with Russia and quite close, developing and there is no political expediency for the sharp change of orientation.

"Is Russia leaving the South Caucasus for us to make sharp turns? I do not think there are necessary preconditions for it", noted the deputy, stressing that we should not orient only on the situational developments. "There are strategic interests and perspective goals", considers the deputy.

As was reported, on October 17 former Armenian President Levon Ter-Petrosyan, considering the complicated geopolitical situation in the Caucasus, which may have a negative impact on the fair resolution of the Karabakh conflict, urged the Armenian parliament to recognize independence of "Nagorno Karabakh".

The former president also announced that in conditions of "the threat to the statehood of Armenia", opposition is suspending the mass actions of protests. He also noted that the working leadership of the country tends to change the external political course, leaning towards the West. He noted that this process is accompanied by worsening of traditional friendship with Russia.

/Regnum/