Does Ter-Petrosyan want to quit politics?
Vice-Chairman of the Armenian National Assembly Samvel Nikoyan said that the statement of the Heads of Delegation of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair countries indicates that the superpowers see the Karabakh conflict resolution within three principles of the Helsinki Final Act: the people's right to self-determination, non-use of force and territorial integrity.
"The statement was addressed to Azerbaijan, as the country sees the Karabakh conflict resolution only within territorial integrity," Samvel Nikoyan said today.
"Azeri president should draw inferences from Kosovo precedent, with people's right to self-determination given priority over territorial integrity principle in international practice. The ICJ ruling is a perfect precedent which can help in a struggle for international recognition of NKR independence," he said and added that in case the conflict resolution is drawn into a deadlock within the framework of the Minsk Group auspices, Armenia will recognize NKR independence.
Samvel Nikoyan does not rule out resumption of the war as "if one wants to live in peace, one must be ready for war."
Regarding ALiyev's statement that Azerbaijan is a powerful country and can occupy Armenia in three days, Mr. Nikoyan said, "I would like to remind Aliyev about his whereabouts during the war. He was hiding overseas."
The RA NA vice-chairman finds Armenian first President Levon Ter-Petrosyan's statement in the recent congress of the Armenian Pan-National Movement rather unpleasant since Ter-Petrosyan sounded pessimistic about the future of Armenia and Artsakh.
"Ter-Petrosyan said if we want to live a dignified life, we must cede Nagorno Karabakh," Nikoyan said adding that many perceived that the statement was beneficial for Azerbaijan.
"But I think the statement was addressed to Levon Ter-Petrosyan's team. It is the continuation of his article "War or Peace" written 12 years ago. The statement can be entitled "Capitulation." Ter-Petrosyan tried to receive the support of his teammates to abandon politics." Nikoyan stated.
