GEORGY PETROSSIAN: MEDIATORS FOCUSED THEIR ATTENTION NOT ON ESSENCE OF
CONFLICT BUT ON LIQUIDATION OF CONFLICTS’ CONSEQUENCES

STEPANAKERT, JULY 27, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On July 27,
Nagorno Karabakh Republic Foreign Minister Georgy Petrossian received
Vice Speaker of the British Parliament House of Lords Baroness Caroline
Cox and a delegation, which had arrived with her in Stepanakert.

On the request of the guests the Head of the NKR Foreign Office dwelt
upon the process of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement in the
context of recent regional and world events. "The Nagorno Karabakh
conflict is a complicated one, as a great number of interests are
coming into collision here, which acquire a special urgency from the
standpoint of the recent events in the region and in the world on
the whole", – Georgy Petrossian said.

The Minister noted that the existing format of the negotiations on the
Karabakh conflict settlement did not reflect the core of the conflict.

Unfortunately, today, the mediators focused their attention not on
the essence of the conflict but on the liquidation of the conflicts’
consequences. We emphasize once more that without the participation
of Nagorno Karabakh – the most suffered party to the conflict, the
achievement and realization of any agreements are impossible," –
Georgy Petrossian said.

Having noted that the negotiations for Nagorno Karabakh are not an
end in itself, the Minister expressed the NKR authorities’ readiness
to discuss any issues, which do not infringe upon Karabakh people’s
rights and do not threaten their security.

The interlocutors also touched upon the issues of democratic
development of Nagorno Karabakh and its integration into international
processes.

As Noyan Tapan was informed from NKR Foreign Ministry Press Service,
the interlocutors also discussed issues relating to NKR democratic
development and its integration to international processes: "Today,
we face a task of development but not a survival. In this connection
we attach great importance to democratization processes. The freer
are the people, the more protected are their rights in our country
the stronger we shall be. It is a strategical way for us",- Georgy
Petrossian emphasized.

Baroness Cox and the delegation members, headed by her, expressed
their readiness to assist Nagorno Karabakh in asserting its interests
on the international scene and in announcing truthful information to
the world community.