Nagorno Karabakh Republic must initiate international recognition campaign parallel to ongoing settlement talks, according to ARF Dashnaktsutyun Hay Dat and Political Affairs Office Director.

As Kiro Manoyan stated during a foreign policy forum, Armenia should have recognized Karabakh independence in 1991-1992, while, now, in view of ongoing settlement negotiations the move would be unreasonable.

Commenting on current stage of negotiations, he noted, “mediators long ago understood that the future of Artsakh is beyond the Azeri control, with the focus shifted on the search of a settlement formula to save Azerbaijan’s face. “Though peaceful settlement progress may benefit from Baku consent, it may well do without the latter,” the expert noted citing Kosovo experience as an example.

The forum was organized by the Armenian Center of Political and International Studies with the assistance of U.S. National Democratic Institute.