Armenian parliament boycotts bill on recognition of "independence" of Nagorno-Karabakh
By Sara Rajabova
The parliamentary majority in Armenia has boycotted the voting on the bill on Armenia's recognition of "independence" of Nagorno-Karabakh.
As a result of voting only ten MPs voted in favor, there were no votes against, one MP abstained, Armenian media reported.
In particular, some factions refused to take part in the voting, citing such a decision as untimely.
Initiator of the draft law was MP from the opposition "Heritage"
faction Zaruhi Postanjyan.
Before voting, she tried to explain the need for recognition of the
so-called "Nagorno-Karabakh Republic" at this stage, however,
parliament speaker Hovik Abrahamyan turned off her microphone.
Abrahamyan said earlier that the Armenian foreign ministry has presented a negative opinion of the draft law. However, Heritage faction stated that the draft law must be discussed immediately.
Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry slammed the bill, saying it will negatively affect the peaceful settlement of the conflict and aims to undermine this process.
Armenia captured Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding districts from Azerbaijan in a war that followed the Soviet breakup in 1991. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed, and nearly 1 million were displaced as a result of the war.
Large-scale hostilities ended with a Russia-brokered ceasefire in 1994, but Armenia has continued the occupation in defiance of four UN Security Council resolutions calling for an immediate and unconditional withdrawal.
Peace talks mediated by Russia, France and the US have produced no results so far.