September 16, 2005 - 12:54 AMT
KARABAKH MAJOR POLITICAL TASK - INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION OF NKR
"Our major political task is international recognition of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR), and the issue cannot be subject to discussion. If Azerbaijan expresses its positive attitude to the issue, then we can quietly speak of the rest of the settlement issues," NK FM Arman Melikyan stated. At that he emphasized that equivalency principle should be observed in the refugee issue. "A huge shortcoming of the talks being held today is mentioning Armenian refugees from Shahumyan or Getashen simultaneous to speaking of Azeri refugees. The matter has never concerned the numerous Armenians, who had to leave Azerbaijan as an outcome of persecution by Azeri authorities and ethnic cleansing in 1988-90. This is one of the largest gaps at the talks. Equivalency principle should be observed in this issue. Equivalency principle should become a basic one at the talks. Based on equivalency, many issues can be discussed," A. Melikyan said, reported IA Regnum.