Azernews.Az

YEREVAN – A draft law on recognizing the Armenia-occupied Upper (Nagorno) Karabakh region of Azerbaijan as "an independent state" has been included in the agenda of the Armenian parliament’s session that started on Tuesday, despite disapproval by the government.

Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Savarsh Kocharian said in parliament, however, that the country’s authorities disapprove of endorsing the bill on the "Nagorno Karabakh Republic’s" so-called independence. He said the government considers even discussing the bill erroneous, calling on lawmakers to oppose a vote on the issue.

Azerbaijan and Armenia fought a lengthy war that ended with the signing of a cease-fire in 1994, but Armenia continues to occupy Nagorno Karabakh and seven adjacent Azerbaijani districts in defiance of international law. Though the separatist regime in Nagorno Karabakh declared so-called independence at the time of the Soviet collapse in 1991, this "independence" has not been recognized by the world community.

Kocharian maintained that Armenia currently represents Nagorno Karabakh in the ongoing peace talks with Azerbaijan. "Our goal is for Stepanakert (Khankandi) to be represented at the negotiating table."

Raffi Ovannisian, the leader of the opposition Heritage party who proposed the bill, suggested postponing the vote by two weeks, saying the issue "should be raised to the nationwide level."

Lawmakers from the Heritage faction submitted the bill on the self-proclaimed republic’s "independence" to the Armenian parliament last October. However, its discussion at the parliamentary session had been delayed.

Scores of attempts to raise the issue have been made in Armenia in the past, but the bill was removed from the agenda.