“I think that both Armenia and Russia will benefit from the signing of the document on joining the Customs Union; we hail it.”    

Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) President Bako Sahakyan stated the aforesaid on October 20 to the Russian journalists that were visiting NKR capital city Stepanakert, RFE/RL Armenian service reports.

“Armenia’s decision to join the Customs Union was yet another step to strengthen cooperation with Russia. Nothing surprising occurred,” Sahakyan said.

But he added that the NKR cannot even consider joining the Customs Union because it has not been recognized by any state.

“It will be a different matter if we are invited to join in. [And] we would hold meetings and discussions before deciding whether or not to join,” the NKR President noted. 

Reflecting on the ongoing Nagorno-Karabakh peace process, he stated that Karabakh highly appreciates the respective activities by the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs.   

“We are interested to have this conflict resolved as soon as possible. But, first and foremost, it is essential that we [i.e., the NKR] have full participation in the negotiation process,” Sahakyan stated. 

In response to the Russian journalists’ query as to why Armenia has not formally recognized the NKR to this day, President Sahakyan responded as follows: 

“Because Armenia, together with Nagorno-Karabakh, is making joint efforts toward the international recognition of Karabakh’s independence. And [therefore] Armenia’s recognition of Karabakh would be seen as a populist move.”