ARFD and Pashinian back adoption of bill on NKR recognition

The Nagorno Karabakh Republic, Armenia and Azerbaijan should conduct negotiations within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group so as to achieve a uniform solution. Parliamentary deputy Alexander Arzumanian expressed such an opinion in the National Assembly today during the discussions of the draft law on the recognition of the NKR’s independence by Armenia. He said he voted against the draft during the vote in the committee as he considers it an important issue.

“I put forward dozens of arguments and I can put forward another several thousand to prove that the draft’s adoption does not stem from the interests of Armenia and the NKR. If you can present even one argument that the recognition will ensure the points mentioned by you, I will vote for the draft,” Arzumanian told Ms. Zaruhi Postanjian.

The head of the ARFD faction Armen Rustamian said for his part that their faction will participate in the vote and they are going to vote for the draft law.

The head of Armenian National Congress (HAK) faction Levon Zurabian declared that the HAK faction is in favor of the principle of self-determination and independence of the people of the NKR, but the recognition of NKR’s independence is inopportune.
“The recognition of the NKR’s independence by Armenia would mean that Armenia is withdrawing from the negotiations and torpedoing the negotiations. Taking into account the fact that the NKR also considers this move inopportune, the recognition would mean that Armenia unilaterally takes a step that contradicts the NKR people’s right to self-determination. The recognition of Nagorno Karabakh can be achieved by its settlement and development, rather than by the draft’s adoption,” Zurabian said, adding that the HAK will not participate in the vote.

HAK deputy Nikol Pashnian said he will participate in the vote and he is going to vote in favor of the draft. “I will vote in favor not because I am against cold and pragmatic planning, but because it is necessary today to send a message to the international community and our compatriots in the Diaspora that there are people in Armenia who believe in Armenia’s independence as enthusiastically as they did in 1988. I will vote for the independence of Armenia and the NKR and against the cold and pragmatic hopelessness,” Pashinian said.

The draft s’ author, head of Heritage faction Zaruhi Postanjian said the draft was submitted as early as 2007. “We believe that it is time to recognize the NKR. This is urgent and important, especially given the challenges facing the two Armenian states,” Zaruhi Postanjian stated.