Sharmazanov: If the world does not recognize the self-determination  of Artsakh, then it should not recognize the self-determination of  the Soviet republics

ArmInfo."The international community must understand that the Republic of Artsakh is fighting not against Azerbaijan, but for its freedom and independence," RA Deputy Speaker Eduard Sharmazanov said during the meeting of the Armenia-Artsakh Interparliamentary Cooperation Commission on November 10.

He noted that since Artsakh can not raise its problems at  international venues, Armenian diplomats should make every effort to  fully and correctly present this issue to foreign colleagues. "It is  very important to conduct active agitation work with foreign deputies  in order to visit Artsakh," the vice-speaker said.

Touching upon the latest international processes on  self-determination, Sharmazanov stressed that it is impossible to  draw parallels between them. "The Karabakh problem is not similar to  either the Crimean, Abkhazian, or Catalonian issues, it is a separate  and unique process." We must bring to our European colleagues that  Artsakh, like all other post-Soviet countries, has self-determined in  accordance with the norms of international law. if the process of its  self-determination is not recognized by the international community,  then it should not recognize the self-determination of the Soviet  republics, "the vice-speaker stressed.

He also drew the attention of the international community to the fact  that Artsakh has managed to build a more democratic statehood than  Azerbaijan in the years of its independence: "It's not we who say  this, it is stated by all foreign delegations that visit  Nagorno-Karabakh."