EDWARD NALBANDIAN: RIGHT OF DECIDING ARTSAKH STATUS BELONGS TO NAGORNO KARABAKH PEOPLE

NOYAN TAPAN
JULY 9, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JULY 9, NOYAN TAPAN. Issues related to the preparation for
the coming meeting of the Armenian and Azeri Presidents were discussed
at the July 8 meeting of OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs Yuri Merzliakov,
Bernard Fassier, Matthew Bryza, and Personal Representative of the
OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk with RA Foreign Minister
Edward Nalbandian.

Touching upon the format of negotiations held within the framework of
the Minsk Group, E. Nalbandian mentioned the necessity of Artsakh
side’s complete participation in the negotiations process as a
guarantee of peaceful process’ efficiency.

The Co-chairs regretted to say that they were not able to visit
Stepanakert this time due to the unfavorable weather.

As Noyan Tapan was informed by the RA Foreign Ministry Press and
Information Department, RA Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian, after
the meeting, at correspondents’ request commenting upon Azeri Foreign
Minister’s statement on providing autonomy to Nagorno Karabakh as part
of Azerbaijan, said that the Azeri Foreign Minister is not authorized
to decide the issue of Artsakh status, the right of deciding that
issue belongs to the Nagorno Karabakh people.