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Comments of the Foreign Minister Edward Nalbadnian to "Armenpress" News
Agency
Question: Minister, would you comment on the June 18 incidents at the
Armenian-Azerbaijani border, which resulted in the killings of two residents
of Chinari village.
Answer: I want to first express my most sincere condolences to the families
of the victims.
Attacks against the civilian population, killings of innocent people and the
recent steps of Azerbaijani side, in general, are directed towards the
deterioration of the situation. I believe that all these attempts, which
include the incident in the Martakert region of Nagorno Karabagh in the
first days of March; persistent refusal, since April, to return four
Armenian citizens; killing of an Armenian serviceman in Tavush region and
now the killing of two civilian residents of Chinari village, must be
strongly condemned. Such steps endanger the peace process. One wonders
whether the real goal of the Azerbaijani side is to create additional
obstacles to the continuation of the peace talks. The demands of a number of
Azerbaijani NGOs to stop the negotiations can only be seen as an evidence of
this. It is obvious from where those NGOs are directed. These steps raise
serious concern and have to be denounced.
Question: There have been statements from the Azerbaijani side about the
alleged change of Armenia’s position with regard the resolution of the
Nagrono Karabagh conflict. Could you clarify Armenia’s position?
Answer: Just and peaceful resolution of Nagorno Karabakh conflict remains a
priority of Armenia’s foreign policy.
The recognition and exercise of the right of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh
for self-determination is in the core of the conflict.
Armenia believes that the resolution of Nagorno Karabagh conflict should be
based on the following principles:
– Nagorno Karabakh cannot be under the authority of Azerbaijan;
– Nagorno Karabakh must have a permanent land link to Armenia, which should
be under the jurisdiction of Armenian side.
– Security of the Nagorno Karabakh population must be guaranteed.
Acceptance of these principles and their assertion in an agreement will
allow to surmount the consequences of the conflict.
The agreement in this regard should, naturally, be approved by the Karabakh
side.
Armenia remains committed to the resolution of the conflict only through
peaceful means and believes that the creation of a confidence environment is
essential for the continuation of negotiations in a constructive manner. The
sides should refrain from steps, which might generate additional tension and
create obstacles on the way of the peace process.
The militaristic propaganda and threats of a possible military solution
voiced at the highest level in Azerbaijan contradict the UN Charter and the
OSCE Founding Document, the 1975 Helsinki Final Act, as well as the main
principles of international law.
Any attempt of a military solution can have unpredictable consequences not
only for the parties themselves but for the entire region.
Negotiations on the resolution of Nagorno Karabakh conflict are held within
the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group — between the Presidents and Foreign
Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan. Armenia values the mediation of Minsk
Group Co-chairs as an effective framework for the process of negotiations.
While being engaged in the negotiations process within the OSCE Minsk Group,
Azerbaijan, at the same time, is making attempts to transfer the resolution
of Nagorno Karabakh conflict to other international fora, continues to
distort the essence of the conflict, and carries on the anti-Armenian
propaganda at various international organizations. This has seriously
impeded the resolution of the conflict and continues to impede.
Armenia is determined to continue negotiations in the framework of OSCE
Minsk Group in order to achieve a final resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict.