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Oskanyan: NK must be settled with principle of right to self-det.

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  • Oskanyan: NK must be settled with principle of right to self-det.

    ArmInfo News Agency, Armenia
    Dec 1 2006

    ARMENIAN FM: KARABAKH CONFLICT MUST BE SETTLED ON THE BASIS OF THE
    PRINCIPLE OF PEOPLES' RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION


    The position of the Armenian party in the settlement of Karabakh
    conflict remains unchanged: the issue must be settled on the basis of
    the principle of peoples' right to self-determination, said Armenian
    Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan at a press conference, Friday.

    The minister thinks there is only one way to unite the two
    contradictory principles (territorial integrity and peoples' right to
    self-determination - ed.) - through a referendum. The minister said
    the document on the negotiating table reflects the idea of the
    referendum. "That is why, I can say that we see the prospect of
    combination of these principles. Thus, to allow the people of Nagorny
    Karabakh, to which all this concerns, to chose either the territorial
    integrity of Azerbaijan or its full self-determination," the minister
    said. He added that self-determination means a choice. "It is the
    only solution, and, fortunately, its elements are included in the
    document. Serious discussions are in process on the possible
    referendum and voting. That is why, we see the prospect of
    combination of the principles," the minister said. At the request of
    journalists, Vardan Oskanyan explained that the referendum applies to
    the territory of Nagorny Karabakh and the people that reside and
    resided there. Asked if refugees are also taken into account, the
    minister said: "There are so many details there that one should not
    go into details until the principle is finally determined. It is a
    typical example of the principle and the details. For instance, an
    agreement to the referendum does not mean anything yet. As dwelling
    on the issue, one can get into a confusion: who, when, if refugees
    will return, if yes, so when etc.," the minister said.

    Asked what can make Armenia refuse from the idea of referendum, the
    minister said: "if we are proposed a better alternative - recognition
    of Nagorny Karabakh's independence." Asked if the referendum will
    cancel the results of 1991 referendum for independence of NKR, the
    minister mentioned that if the international community acknowledged
    them, there will be no necessity of the present negotiation process.
    At the same time, the minister said that Karabakh conflict is
    different from others in the eyes of the international community. "I
    think this gives an advantage to Nagorny Karabakh. Everything should
    be done to maintain this situation," the minister said.
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