The arguments presented by the Armenian leaderships and parliamentary majority that official recognition of Nagorno-Karabakh may cause damage to the negotiation process are not illogical, as Azerbaijan is seeking an occasion to dodge the peace process, Armen Rustamyan, Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, stated in Parliament.

He pointed out that Armenia missed two chances to recognize Nagorno-Karabakh: after the referendum on independence in 1992 and after the ceasefire agreement was signed in 1994, when Azerbaijan was actually ready for capitulation. “The chance was missed. If we recognize Nagorno-Karabakh now, let us at least do so when it is the most secure moment,” Rustamyan said. He considers his own initiative to sign a politico-military cooperation agreement between Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh a more effective step. It will cause as great excitement on the part of international community as recognition would. “An agreement on a military strategic bloc would establish the fact that Armenia is a guarantee of Nagorno-Karabakh’s security, and the international community will have to put up with it if it is unable to provide such guarantees itself,” Rustamyan said.