VARDAN OSKANYAN: NONPARTICIPATION OF NAGORNO KARABAKH IN NEGOTIATION PROCESS IS NOT AN ISSUE OF POLITICAL SOLUTION

ArmInfo
2009-05-05 10:52:00

Creation of the Minsk process in February, 1992, aimed to
hold a conference in Minsk to determine the status of Nagorno
Karabakh. However, I remember well that Azerbaijan has always avoided
discussing the issue of Nagorno Karabakh status, ex-Foreign Minister
of Armenia Vardan Oskanyan said during presentation of his collection
of speeches titled "Incomplete Decade" in the NKR capital, ArmInfo
special correspondent in Stepanakert reported.

According to V. Oskanyan, the Minsk process started with participation
of Nagorno Karabakh, however, after Lisbon statement in 1996, the
Minsk process was stopped and Azerbaijan tried to make this statement a
basis for negotiations. Started March, 1997, participation of Nagorno
Karabakh in the process actually ceased. ‘However, it was continually
emphasized that Nagorno Karabakh will continue its participation from
the date of recovery of the Minsk process or Nagorno Karabakh will
take part in creation of the final document from the date when Armenia
and Azerbaijan agree on the common principles of settlement. So,
participation or nonparticipation of the NKR was not an issue of
political solution but a result of development of an objective
process’, V. Oskanyan emphasized.