ARMENAIN FOREIGN MINISTER EDWARD NALBANDIAN MEETS NKR PRESIDENT BAKO SAHAKIAN IN STEPANAKERT

ARMENPRESS
July 16, 2009

YEREVAN, JULY 16, ARMENPRESS: Armenian Foreign Minister Edward
Nalbandian visited today Stepanakert. In Stepanakert he was received
by the President of Nagorno Karabakh Republic Bako Sahakian.

Media Relations Department of the Armenian Foreign Ministry
told Armenpress that issues related to the current stage of the
Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict settlement process were discussed at
the meeting.

After the meeting the RA Foreign Affairs Minister returned to Yerevan.

Prior to that Edward Nalbandian had a briefing with journalists during
which he answered a number of questions.

Question: What would you comment on the statement of the Presidents
Medvedev, Sarkozi and Obama on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement
during the G8 summit in Italy?

Answer: We assess the wish of Russian, USA and French Presidents and
their consistent efforts as OSCE Minsk Group chairing states to assist
the sides in bringing the approaches together and going through the
issue settlement.

As to the certain details of the Madrid document posted in the
official websites of OSCE and Minsk Group chairing states, they are
proposals for negotiations, round some aspects negotiations are held,
the others are not discussed at all.

I would like to invite your attention on a circumstance that all the
three principals numerous times stated by Armenia as basic principals
for conflict troubleshooting are involved in it. They run as follows –
the legal status of Karabakh should be determined by the express of
will of Karabakh people which must have a compulsory legal force, a
steady land ties between Armenia and Artsakh as well as international
security guarantees.

And if Azerbaijan by now speaks only about the territorial integrity
contrary to that Armenia has numerous times stated about the conflict
settlement based on three basic principals – self-determination of
nations, territorial integrity and non use of force or threat for it;
it means that the issued details confirm what Armenia was speaking
about.

Question: Mr. Minister the principals issued in the OSCE website
also include the aspect of return of the expatriated people and
refugees. What does it presuppose?

Answer: I have once expressed my opinion on that and can once
more say that no discussion is held on the return of the refugees
to Karabakh. That issue can be referred to only after the final
settlement of the Karabakh issue in a wider context, also taking into
consideration the issue of nearly 400 000 Armenian refugees.

Question: During his latest interview the NKR President has stated
that the present negotiation format does not satisfy Artsakh. There
is an impression that NKR authorities have other approaches on the
process of conflict regulation. What can you say in this connection?

Answer: Armenia considers the full participation of NKR in the
negotiations as necessity and a warrant of efficiency of the peaceful
process.

It is natural that Karabakh may have other approaches in some issues,
but I would like to underscore that the opinion of Nagorno Karabakh
Republic is of great importance for us and Armenia can not only ignore
it but also cannot make any agreements without the approval of the
Artsakh people and authorities and my presence here today is a proof
for that.