Karabakh leader accuses Azerbaijan of ignoring reality

Mediamax news agency
16 Dec 04

Yerevan, 16 December: The efforts of the political administration of
the Nagornyy Karabakh republic (NKR) are still aimed at reaching a
“lasting peaceful solution to the conflict with Azerbaijan on the
basis of the principles fully reflecting the will of the NKR people”,
a Mediamax special correspondent quoted the president of the NKR,
Arkadiy Gukasyan, as telling a meeting of representatives of all
branches of power of the republic in Stepanakert today.

The NKR president expressed his regret that “at the current stage in
the peace process, which runs under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk
Group, attempts are being made to artificially isolate the Karabakh
side”. At the same time, he expressed his confidence that “this very
circumstance impedes a new impetus to the negotiating process that
can develop the positive results achieved over the past more than
10 years thanks to the effort of the parties to the conflict and
international mediation”.

“The counter-productive position of the Baku authorities, which
are reluctant to reckon not only with the existing realities but
also with the interests of the world and regional states, including
Azerbaijan’s own allies, has actually brought the negotiating process
to an impasse the way out of which cannot be found without the equal
involvement of Nagornyy Karabakh in the negotiations,” Gukasyan said.

He said if the Azerbaijani authorities had the good will and a
genuine interest in resolving the conflict on the basis of reasonable
compromises, the way out of the crisis would be found and the efforts
of the Minsk Group co-chairmen would produce the desired positive
results.

Gukasyan confirmed the readiness of the Nagornyy Karabakh republic for
a direct dialogue with Baku and for the joint discussion of all issues
concerning the prospects for relations between Nagornyy Karabakh and
Azerbaijan, Mediamax reports.

“However, the Baku authorities do not seem to have given up their
crazy and suicidal intentions to resolve the problem by force, which
compels us to continue taking the necessary measures to strengthen
the defence capability of the NKR and raise the combat readiness of
our army, which is the most reliable guarantor of the security of
our state and the people of Nagornyy Karabakh,” Arkadiy Gukasyan said.