Armenia will de jure recognize the independence of Nagorno-Karabakh if negotiations with Azerbaijan on a settlement of their conflict over the predominantly ethnic Armenian enclave in Azerbaijan reach a deadlock, Armenian President Robert Kocharian told journalists on Thursday evening. \"Armenia should be prepared that the talks may reach an impasse, although chances to make progress still remain,\" he said. \"However, if Azerbaijan firmly states that time is working for Azerbaijan and tries to resolve the Karabakh issue by bolstering the army and using force, Armenia will take the following steps: first and foremost, it will de jure recognize the independence of the republic of Nagorno-Karabakh,\" the president said. The second step would be \"a set of agreements and laws that would allow Armenia to ensure the security of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh. I am speaking about signing a wide variety of treaties that would view any attack on Nagorno-Karabakh as an attack on Armenia,\" Kocharian said. The third step would be the creation of a so-called \'security belt\', he said. (Interfax)