Armenia may recognize Karabakh's independence: Samvel Nikoyan

Armenia may recognize the independence of Nagorno Karabakh, Deputy Chairman of Armenia's National Assembly Samvel Nikoyan told a press conference today.

"At this moment may be it is not expedient, but it [the recognition] must not be excluded altogether," said Nikoyan, asked whether Armenia would recognize the independence of Karabakh following the ruling by the International Court of Justice over the legality of the declaration of Kosovo's independence.

According to him currently Armenia obtains from recognizing Karabakh's independence due to the OSCE Minsk Group process. But if the OSCE MG fails to resolve this conflict, the recognition of Karabakh's independence may be one of the steps Armenia will take.

Saying that today the international community is in the opinion that the NK conflict should be resolved based on the Helsinki Final Act - based on the main three principles: nation's right to self-determination, territorial integrity and non-use of force or the non-use of the threat of force - Nikoyan further said that Azerbaijan must draw conclusions and avoid considering the settlement of the conflict based only one principle, namely, territorial integrity.