YEREVAN (RFE/RL)–The National Assembly began debating on Tuesday a government bill that would allow Armenia’s government to sign agreements with unrecognized republics and Nagorno-Karabakh in particular.
Armenia’s existing law on international treaties allows Yerevan to forge formal links only with those entities that are internationally recognized as independent states.
Presenting a corresponding draft amendment to the law, Deputy Foreign Minister Shavarsh Kocharian acknowledged that its main target is the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. “In this case, we are stating that … the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic can be a party to international treaties,” he said.
Armen Rustamian, the chairman of the parliament committee on foreign relations, likewise said Yerevan wants to be able to formalize its very close political, economic and military ties with the neighboring republic.
“Formalizing this in a law is also a step addressed to the international community,” he told RFE/RL’s Armenian service. “We are showing that we do not exclude forging an alliance with Karabakh at a certain moment.” Rustamian, who is the chairman of the opposition Armenian Revolutionary Federation’s Supreme Body in Armenia, said that is why his committee supports the draft amendment.
At last; it is long overdue.
Agreed Arziv. At last and finally Armenia is going in the right direction!!!! Thank goodness!!!!!
It is a very good idea at last………
Verchabes. Put behind the BS politics and get on with formalizing ties!