Astana was against NKR's independence
"According to that change, Armenia will engage in relations with unrecognized states and entities and, of course this refers to Artsakh," "Heritage" faction MP Stepan Safaryan told "A1+".
RA Deputy Foreign Minister Shavarsh Kocharyan presented the draft law today at the National Assembly, but he doesn't see any relationship between the change and Artsakh. "Armenia can sign an agreement with the NKR at any given moment," said Mr. Kocharyan.
However, his explanation didn't satisfy the "Heritage" party. "This is nothing but a draft law on de jure recognition of the Republic of Artsakh. Armenia is saying it hasn't recognized NKR's independence for many years and will now sign an agreement with the NKR as an unrecognized state," said Stepan Safaryan.
Safaryan says the government's draft law is the continuation of the declaration announced in Astana which Serzh Sargsyan signed as well.
Stepan Safaryan assured that "Heritage" will put the draft law "On Armenia's recognition of the NKR's independence" up for a vote on December 9 as planned. "The vote against the NKR's independence already took place in Astana. By signing under a declaration, Armenia has deprived itself of any opportunity to implement a strategy on the NKR. In Astana Serzh Sargsyan agreed that the issue related to the NKR's status will not be solved anytime soon."
Addressing Serzh Sargsyan's announcement according to which Armenia will recognize the NKR's independence if Azerbaijan continues aggression, Safaryan said: "What if Azerbaijan is not aggressive? Will Armenia continue to keep the fact that NKR is unrecognized as hostage? This is dangerous and we will see the negative effects later."
In any case, the National Assembly will put the draft law on changes envisaged in the RA law "On International Treaties" tomorrow. The NA Standing Committee on International Relations has already given a positive conclusion. According to chairperson of the committee Armen Rustamyan, this draft law is another step toward sealing a strategic alliance between Armenia and the NKR. "The time has come. If we take into consideration the number of victims since the signing of the ceasefire, we see that Azerbaijan has not put an end to the military aggression. The NKR has no other guarantee other than Armenia."
