Kocharian Rates Conflict Settlement Present Tendencies Positive

“I rate the present tendencies of conflict settlement as positive enough. Today much more attention is paid to the right to self-determination of peoples,” Armenian President Robert Kocharian stated in an interview with the leading Armenian and Nagorno Karabakh TV Channels. “If we analyze the ways of conflict settlement during the recent time we can see that all the conflicts are settled due to this very principle. Let’s take the independence of Eritrea, Eastern Timor via referendum… The processes in Kosovo leave no doubt for the outcome of the conflict. Montenegro is awaiting the referendum; the issue of Palestinian autonomy arouses no doubt; an agreement on the North-South conflict was signed in Sudan,” the RA leader noted. In his words, the right of self-determination forms the basis of the settlement of these conflicts and “in this view our positions in the negotiation processes get stronger year by year.” Today the dialogue with the international community on the Karabakh conflict resolution has become much easier. The tendencies over the Nagorno Karabakh conflict are favorable due to one more reason. Everybody understands that the principle of territorial integrity being very important is often used for violence and justification of violence against national minorities. “In this view I am much more optimist about the continuation of the negotiation process, since the examples available to date certainly give the Armenian party the possibility for more efficient work in this direction,” the Armenian President stated.