TIGRAN SARKISYAN: "CONCESSIONS IN THE SETTLEMENT OF NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT WILL NOT DIVIDE ARMENIA"

Azeri Press Agency
Jan 14 2009
Azerbaijan

Yerevan-APA. "I discussed the OSCE Minsk Group activity toward the
settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict with Vice President Richard
Cheney and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Washington.

Both said it was the best format and they supported the Minsk
Group’s activity", said Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sarkisyan
in his interview with Interfax, APA reports. He said US officials
thought that there was mutual understanding between the Minsk Group
co-chairs. "Condoleezza Rice said she talked with her Russian
counterpart about the Minsk Group’s activity and they reached
full understanding on this issue. It means that all the United
States, Russia and France consider this format more effective and
acceptable. We agree with these evaluations because it coincides with
our views".

Tigran Sarkisyan said he didn’t believe that possible concessions to
be made by them in the settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict would
lead to dividing Armenia. "Our position is that any decision should
be acceptable for Nagorno Karabakh at first. If the concessions don’t
meet interests of Nagorno Karabakh people, we will not accept these".

Tigran Sarkisyan said talks on normalization of relations with
Turkey were going on usefully. "There is a significant progress in
the Turkish-Armenian relations. Armenia is interested in peaceful
neighborhood relations with the neighbor countries, including Turkey
and Azerbaijan. Regarding the opening borders, it will not be a
problem, if political and economic relations are normalized with the
neighbor countries.