YEREVAN. – If Azerbaijan launches a major military attack, Armenia will recognize the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR/Artsakh).

Political scientist Aleksandr Markarov, who is Director of CIS Institute Armenian Branch, stated the aforementioned at a pres conference on Wednesday.

In his words, the NKR’s recognition by Armenia, or its joining Armenia, would open a new door before Azerbaijan.

“We [i.e. the Armenian side] can use the factor of recognizing the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic only when there remains absolutely no other option,” Markarov noted. “In this case, Azerbaijan will come out of the negotiation process; the OSCE [i.e. the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe] Minsk Group will be deprived of its mandate to settle [the Karabakh conflict].”

The analyst added that Armenia’s recognition of the NKR will mean that Karabakh will join several other countries and have a certain international legal status.

“But, in any case, all this would mean that Armenia has not seen another option to continue the process,” Aleksandr Markarov stressed.

The Government of Armenia will consider the bill On Recognizing the Republic of Artsakh, and which is submitted by opposition MPs Zaruhi Postanjyan and Hrant Bagratyan. 

This draft law is put on the agenda of Thursday’s Cabinet meeting.