Armenpress News Agency , Armenia
 Tuesday


Armenian FM brands Aliyev's NK settlement statement 'absurd'



YEREVAN, MAY 30, ARMENPRESS. Armenia has always been in favor of
meetings with Azerbaijan on both foreign ministerial and presidential
levels, and if the condition matures and works are done for
organization, a meeting will be possible to be held, Armenia’s foreign
minister Edward Nalbandian told a joint press conference with OSCE
Secretary General Lamberto Zannier.

The Armenian FM reminded that the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs will
visit the region during the next ten days. “If the necessity and
proposal happen, perhaps we will also discuss the issue of further
meetings. I believe currently we can speak only about a ministerial
meeting, in order for relevant work to be carried out for organizing a
presidential meeting in the future also”, Naldandian said.

Edward Nalbandian also commented on the recent statement of
Azerbaijani president, when Aliyev said the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
should be settled ‘based on the principle of territorial integrity’.

“I treat this kind of statements the same way I treat other claims
stating that supposedly Azerbaijan is a global multicultural center,
which respects all fundamental freedoms, human rights and is a
tolerant country, which can serve as an example to other countries and
other similar absurd claims”, Nalbandian said.

Nalbandian reminded that the international community and the Co-Chairs
have numerously said that the issue must be solved based on the three
well-known principles, which are one whole: non-use of force or threat
of force, self-determination right and territorial integrity, as well
as the elements which are in the well-known five statements of the
presidents of Co-Chairing countries.