Armen Sargsyan: Azerbaijan should be recognized as aggressor

International experience shows that the single correct resolution of conflicts is recognition of right of self-determination, Armen Sargsyan, Head of the Artsakh parliament Committee on Science, Education, Culture and Sport, said addressing a conference in the Free University of Amsterdam on right of peoples to self-determination.

“Presently, international opinion on territorial integrity is reduced to claims of one country on another. Certainly, right of people self-determining in their territory prevails,” Sargsyan said.

He stressed necessity of Nagorno Karabakh’s participation in the negotiations, with true representation of events.

“Azerbaijan’s recognition as an aggressor state is also important for fair resolution of the conflict,” parliamentarian stressed.

He noted that current military and political balance in the region is the only way to maintain long-term peace, and any change in the situation may trigger new conflicts.

Representatives of Azerbaijan tried to aggravate the situation with provocative questions but Artsakh parliamentarian’s exact answers neutralized their attempts.

In return, representative of Leiden University E. Brabandere stated that proclamation of Kosovo independence does not contradict norms of the international law, therefore right of self-determination in the territory of one country prevails over the principle of territorial integrity.

“Self-determination is a form of expressing human freedoms and peoples’ freedoms, and any limitation is violation of human rights,” representative of Netherlands stated.

Representative of the Free University of Amsterdam Mrs. De Hoon, who was a member of the observation mission in Artsakh parliamentary elections, addressed the situation in Nagorno Karabakh. She stated that the parliamentary elections held in May 2010 in Artsakh met international standards, and many independent countries can only dream of the level of Artsakh elections.