The recent speech of the editor-in-chief of the information agency Regnum, Modest Kolerov, on the situation around settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and his statement on reasonability of recognition of Karabakh independence by Armenia caused ambiguous reaction among Armenian politicians and experts. The political technologist Arman Gevorkyan comments the statement by Kolerov for VK.
- What do you think about Kolervo’s statement on necessity of recognition of Karabakh independence by Armenia, considering that Armenia has certain duties on participation in negotiations within the Minsk process?
- Of course, Modest Kolerov is the head of one of major information agencies in Russia, but he doesn’t express official view of Russia. Kolerov expresses his own view as an expert. I respect Kolerov’s opinion. Recognition of Karabakh independence has two aspects – legal and political. There are no problems in the legal sphere, as the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic was declared on September 2nd, 1991, after declaration of Azerbaijan’s independence. Azerbaijan left the USSR according to the Soviet law on April 3rd, 1990. The law said that peoples of autonomous republics have right to decide by themselves on staying within the USSR or within the USSR republic. According to this law the referendum in Nagorny-Karabakh was held on December 10th, 1991. Thus, there are no problems in the legal sphere not only for Armenia, but also for Russia or the EU, which decided on the standards of recognition of independent states in 1991.
However, there is another problem – political one, as Karabakh’s withdrawing from Azerbaijan caused war. Thus, settlement of the issue can be political only. If Armenia recognizes Karabakh independence today, it would break negotiation and give advantage to Azerbaijan for it starts a war. Armenia doesn’t want it. Azerbaijan doesn’t want it too, I think, but some threat remains.
- What obligations does Armenia have to Nagorny Karabakh?
- Armenia cooperates closely with the NKR in economic, defense, education, cultural and informational spheres, but politically they have two different systems. Armenia fulfills its obligations to Karabakh in these spheres, but Armenia didn’t promise to recognize independence of Karabakh.
- Is it possible that Armenia is also concerned with the fact that it could be the only country, which recognizes Karabakh, just like it was in the situation with Turkey and the Turkish Republic of North Cyprus?
- Yes, there is such example: Turkey is the only country, which recognizes independence of the Turkish Republic of North Cyprus, and no one else does it.
- Is it justified to compare the situation of recognition of Karabakh independence by Armenia with the situation of recognition of independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia by Russia?
- These moments are different. First of all, among four conflict zones of the former USSR only the NKR held the referendum on independence ahead of the conflict escalation, i.e. when Azerbaijani population was living there. Even though Azerbaijani people didn’t participate in the referendum, they could do it.
Secondly, in the situation with Abkhazia and South Ossetia there was a certain format of negotiations, and the negotiations were conducted. Georgia withdrew the process of negotiations in both cases, broke the ceasing fire regime and attacked Russian peacemakers. In that situation Russia had nothing to do but recognize independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, in other case its army would be considered as occupants.
- Some Russian experts say that recognition of the NKR independence by Armenia is a guarantee of starting a new war. Some Armenian observers consider the statement as Russia’s intention to change the status quo in settlement of the conflict…
- I repeat that experts are individuals. And their opinions deserve to be heard. But in this case different things are important. For example, recognition of the NKR independence means withdrawing of Armenia and the NKR from negotiation within the OSCE. This process is defined by certain documents of the OSCE, which were signed in February-March 1992. If Armenia recognizes Karabakh, it would mean it refuses from its signature in the documents, which were signed 20 years ago.
Interview by Susanna Petrosyan, Yerevan. Exclusively to VK
