The ten-million-strong Armenians in the world have two republics. The first is the recognized Republic of Armenia, and the second is the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR).

The Minister of Education and Science of Armenia, Armen Ashotyan, told the abovementioned to Haqqin.az.

“It is natural that the Republic of Armenia has the right to express solely its own view and act on its own behalf anywhere.

“We [, Armenia,] are members in international organizations. The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, on the other hand, builds its statehood whether or not they have recognized it.

“But the fact of the existence of two Armenian states is a historical fact. You just have to adapt to this for the prosperity of peace in the region and, based on this reality, to work for the long-term prospect,” Ashotyan stated, in particular.

Referring to the fact that Armenia has not yet recognized the NKR, the minister noted that Armenia respects the mediation efforts by the OSCE Minsk Group to resolve the Karabakh conflict. And not violating its commitments to the Minsk Group and the international community, Armenia does not de jure recognize the NKR at this phase, albeit it de facto has long recognized the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.