March 21, 2008 - 16:08 AMT
Russia and U.S. not interested in return of territories to Azerbaijan
Recognition of Nagorno Karabakh's independence doesn't conflict with international interests, NKR former Deputy Foreign Minister Arman Melikyan said.

"We can initiate the recognition process. I am confident that recognition of Nagrono Karabakh by Armenia will cause chain reaction," he said.

"Russia and U.S. are not interested in return of territories to Azerbaijan. It's not in our interests either. We should grant Karabakhi citizenship to Armenian refugees from Azerbaijan, who can populate these lands," he said.

"The negotiation process meets the interests of the EU, which a rival for the United States in the issue. However, weakening of the U.S. influence in the region will not affect the situation, since Russia and U.S. coincide on Karabakh," Melikyan said, Novosti Armenia reports.