PRESS RELEASE

Azat Artsakh Daily,
23 June 08
Republic of Nagorno Karabakh [NKR]

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.