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Press Review


“Zhoghovurd” reports and comments on the Armenian government’s plans to again consider an opposition bill that envisages Armenia’s formal recognition of Nagorno-Karabakh as an independent state. The paper suggests that the government wants to “play this card to the end” in its dealings with Azerbaijan and foreign powers trying to broker a solution to the Karabakh conflict. “The question is what will happen if that play does not produce desired results and the Armenian authorities complete this process by recognizing the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic’s independence,” it says.

“Hraparak” says that as recently as last year the authors of this bill, lawmakers representing Raffi Hovannisian’s Zharangutyun (Heritage) party, were mocked by their pro-government colleagues. The paper wonders whether President Serzh Sarkisian’s administration has indeed calculated potential consequences of Karabakh’s recognition following the recent upsurge in Armenia-Azerbaijani fighting.

“Chorrord Ishkhanutyun” is also not sure that the Armenian authorities have weighed up those consequences. The pro-opposition paper says they seem to be thinking more about damaging Azerbaijan than earning concrete benefits for Armenia with Karabakh’s recognition. “A formal recognition of the NKR would bring us practically no benefits,” it says. “The only benefit would be a wave of euphoria in Armenia and Karabakh. They would organize festivities, fireworks and so on. That may be very important, but states have to be guided by more serious standards.”

“Hayots Ashkhar” also sees an increased likelihood of Karabakh’s recognition by Yerevan. The paper notes that the issue has already attracted the interest of foreign media.

Interviewed by “Aravot,” a former senior Armenian Foreign Ministry official, Marta Ayvazian, strongly criticizes President Sarkisian’s preconditions for restarting peace talks with Azerbaijan following the April 2-5 fighting in Karabakh. “Negotiations should continue under any circumstances,” she says. “Furthermore, the negotiation process should now become much more intensive. That is the only right and beneficial path for us. It can only save soldiers’ lives.”

(Tigran Avetisian)

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