Tigran Balayan: Speaking about Karabakh deal premature

armradio.am
14.02.2009 13:48

In an interview with the Voice of America US Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk
Group Matthew Bryza said the parties were close to working out an
agreement on the Artsakh issue, which was to derive from the principle
of territorial integrity. According to Bryza, the agreement should
include the principles of the right to self-determination and non-use
of force. Asked to comment on the statement, Head of Media Relations
Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Tigran Balayan said:

`It’s not clear what the objective of that statement is, but it creates
an impression that such a comment could be made only to disturb the
negotiation process underway on the basis of the Madrid Proposals.
These proposals are based on three equal principles of international
law ` non-application of force or threat of force, right to
self-determination and territorial integrity.

The Armenian side has been repeatedly stating that the pivotal issue of
the conflict is the recognition and realization of the right of
Artsakhi people to self-determination.

Today the negotiations focus on the principles of settlement, but no
agreement has been reached on them at this point, and speaking about an
agreement is still premature.’