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- Karabagh 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 Nagorno-Karabagh Republic (NKR). “In this case, we are stating that … the Nagorno-Karabagh 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 region.
“Formalizing this in a law is also a step addressed to the international community,” he said. “We are showing that we do not exclude forging an alliance with Karabagh at a certain moment.” Rustamian, who is a senior member of the opposition Armenian Revolutionary Federation, said that is why his committee supports the draft amendment.
The proposed change was rejected by representatives of Zharangutyun (Heritage), the other opposition party which is represented in the Armenian parliament. “The draft is not ready for being discussed at the National Assembly,” one of the members, Larisa Alaverdian, told fellow lawmakers.
Zharangutyun has been pushing for the NKR’s official recognition by Armenia as an independent state. The National Assembly is expected to vote this month on a relevant bill drafted by Zharangutyun.
