Raffi Hovhanissian hopes the 'majority will manage to mature and vote in favor' of Karabakh's recognition by Dec. 9

Even if there is goodwill in the statement adopted by Armenian, Russian and Azerbaijani presidents in Astrakhan recently, the fact is what the reality is, Head and founder of Zharangutyun (Heritage) Party Raffi Hovhanissian told a press conference today.

"Even if there is goodwill in the statement of the three presidents, the fact is the reality," Mr Hovhanissian said, as he spoke about that statement, adding that it was a step forward.

In an October 27 meeting brokered by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in Astrakhan Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents Serzh Sargsyan and Ilham Aliyev underscored that additional steps are necessary to be taken to strengthen the ceasefire and mutual trust in the military sphere.

They also signed a declaration about swapping prisoners of war and repatriating the corpses of soldiers and civilians killed on the line of contact.

Speaking about delaying the vote on a draft law initiated by Zharangutyun and proposing to recognize the independence of Artsakh Republic, Mr Hovhanissian said that it will at the latest be voted on before December 9. But before that Mr Hovhanissian hopes that the "majority will manage to mature and vote in favor" of that draft.

The voting delay had been initiated by Raffi Hovhanissian himself after the ruling coalition released a statement, saying it would not take part in the voting, should Zharangutyun bring on the full parliament floor.

Earlier Chairperson of the Armenia's National Assembly Hovik Abrahamyan had said that the parliament would vote on that draft, should the president propose them to do so.

"If the President proposes that the Armenian parliament recognize Nagorno-Karabakh's independence after the trilateral meeting in Astrakhan on October 27, it is no problem," he had said.

Referring to a comment by Republican Party of Armenia MP Hamlet Harutyunyan that Zharangutyun's initiative over Karabakh's recognition is backed by powers from abroad, Mr Hovhanissian said that they are led by Armenia's national interest only.

Should the parliamentary majority refrain from voting on that proposal or vote against it, according to him, NKR's international recognition will not be put at risk. What matters is to raise that issue; otherwise that process may come under risk even if Armenia's parliament unilaterally votes for it.