Hague court ruling proves the prevalence of people’s right to self-determination over territorial integrity principle, RA NA vice speaker Samvel Nikoyan stated.

As he told a news conference in Yerevan, the 2 principles do not contradict each other, with territorial integrity principle to be applied in case one UN state encroaches on another’s territory. “The principle of people’s right to self-determination is to be applied in case when to defense its rights an ethnic minority is separating itself in accordance with international law to create its own state,” the vice speaker stated.

As Samvel Nikoyan pointed out, Azeri president should draw inferences from Kosovo precedent, with people’s right to self-determination given priority over territorial integrity principle in international practice.

“Armenian parliament will use the ICJ ruling as a basis in a struggle for international recognition of NKR independence,” the vice speaker noted.

According to Nikoyan, Armenia’s recognizing Karabakh independence would be unreasonable at the moment, yet the possibility of recognizing it in future should not be ruled out.

“Currently Karabakh conflict settlement process is conducted under OSCE MG auspices, with Armenian side adhering to this position. Should Azerbaijan bring negotiations into impasse, continuing with ceasefire violations, Armenia may recognize NKR independence. This, in my opinion, is one of the most probable steps of Armenian side,” Nikoyan stated.