Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan has expressed a clear stand on Yerevan's recognition of Karabakh's independence, Armenian Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan told reporters on May 11.
"If Azerbaijan continues its aggressive actions and unleashes a war, we will have to take that step. But now there is no need for it," Abrahamyan said.
As regards the agreement on mutual support between Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, Abrahamyan stressed that the document is still being elaborated.
Earlier on May 5, the Armenian Government approved a conclusion on the bill "On Recognition of the Republic of Artsakh" submitted by opposition MPs Zaruhi Postanjyan and Hrant Bagratyan. The Government has submitted the bill for approval of the Armenian Parliament. The rationale for the bill is the outcome of the discussions on the issue between representatives of Armenia and Karabakh. Earlier, Zaruhi Postanjyan had submitted a similar bill twice, but the parliamentary majority killed the bills saying that recognition of the NKR by Armenia would stop the peace talks. For his part, Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Shavarsh Kocharyan has recently said that Armenia will recognize the NKR if Azerbaijan resumes its large-scale aggression.