Nagorno-Karabakh to do no concessions to Armenia for the sake of Turkey

In the recent couple of weeks, the issue of independence is debated in Nagorno-Karabakh in the context of warming up of Armenian-Turkish relations and recognitions by Russia of independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. The Karabakh politicians are afraid that Armenia, in exchange for unblocking the border by Turkey, will be ready to concede the territories around the former NKAD (Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous District), nowadays under the jurisdiction of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR); but they are not going to give up the idea of independence of NKR.

Vagram Atanesyan, chairman of the commission on foreign relations of the Karabakh Parliament, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that nothing can be excluded in politics, same as nothing is predetermined initially in politics. "The NKR will never give up its independence and its strive for international recognition. Our people have enough will for the authorities not to doubt of the correctness of the way chosen. This assertion was gained by long-term experience and subject to no political debate," Mr Atanesyan has noted.

In the context of Russia's recognition of independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, Vagram Atanesyan has noted that President of NKR Bako Saakyan sent greetings to the leaders of both republics. "Certain contacts followed, in particular, with the Abkhazian party. Today, we can speak about the extent, to which these already recognized republics are ready to hold legitimate contacts, and, in the future, to full-fledged relations with the NKR. When making any decisions, we should outgo first of all from our state interests," Vagram Atanesyan has summed up.