PreferredYEREVAN. - Former President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan disagrees with the opinion that Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) does not participate in negotiation process. In his interview to Artsakh public television Kocharyan stated that Karabakh has its say in the negotiations.
‘‘Karabakh is not involved only in one part of the negotiations, that of meetings between presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan. The negotiation agenda is much broader and Karabakh fully participates in talks with OSCE Minsk Group, while pPresident of Armenia represents the interests of Karabakh at the meetings of presidents. For example, under my administration, I exhaustively discussed and coordinated all points with then President of Karabakh Arkady Ghukasyan," Kocharyan said. “I have no doubt that Karabakh will fully participate in the negotiations. How long it will take is hard to predict. You know, at some point we were pretty close. One thing is clear - in modern history all conflicts of the kind have been resolved in favor of people’s self-determination. All of them, without any exception.”
According to ex-president, time is working in favor of Armenia.
“But do not think that after the recognition of Karabakh life will change dramatically. We do not need someone’s seal for the recognition of our independence. We must live a full life, work and strengthen Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. All this will come, our turn will come as well,’’ he said.
Kocharyan noted that he follows the life of Artsakh and sees significant progress from year to year.
"But today Artsakh faces such challenges that we have no right to say that we are happy with the situation. The moment when we sit down and say we are satisfied with the situation seems the most dangerous to me," summed up Kocharyan.
