The recognition of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR/Artsakh) has no alternative, NKR Prime Minister Arayik Haroutyunyan told Vzglyad, a Russian online newspaper.

Haroutyunyan noted that the international community accepts the Artsakh people’s demand in the Karabakh peace process, and that the Nagorno-Karabakh status issue should be determined based on the right to self-determination of nations; that is, as an independent republic.

“We certainly support Karabakh’s recognition by the Republic of Armenia,” the NKR PM added. “However, at the same time, we understand that there are some influencing factors, including conditioned on the negotiation process, with which we need to be reckoned with. (…) the recognition itself will promote the settlement [of the conflict], and ensure additional security guarantees for the NKR.

“Today, the Karabakh defense army is the real and only guarantor of the security of the population of Karabakh, [and] which ensures its peaceful activities and restrains the militant aggression of Azerbaijan.”