ArmInfo.The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict cannot be settled in the foreseeable future because of serious disagreements between the authorities of the unrecognized Nagorno- Karabakh Republic (NKR) and Azerbaijan, NKR State Minister Artak Beglaryan said in an interview with RIA Novosti.
The major difference is that it is a "matter of prestige and ambitions" for Azerbaijan, whereas it is a "matter of life and death and historical justice" for Nagorno-Karabakh.
At present the NKR authorities are negotiating recognition of Nagorno-Karabakh with Yerevan, but no progress has so far been made. Armenia actually recognized Nagorno-Karabakh as both the states are maintaining "horizontal ties."
In this context, Mr Beglaryan added that efforts aimed at the international recognition of the Republic of Artsakh will be continued. "After Artsakh's independence is internationally recognized, the issue of Artsakh joining Armenia can be considered," Mr Beglaryan said. Azerbaijan is feeling strong now, getting Turkish politico-military support. So the NKR authorities should seek the ways of "solving its problems through direct negotiations with Azerbaijan in the future." However, Azerbaijan must bee ready for peace, he said.
He rules out the European Union's involvement in the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
"The European Union should not be involved in the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process, with the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmanship and effective role of the Russian peacekeeping mission. We do not think that the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process should be a subject of negotiations by the European Union," Mr Beglaryan said.
Dialogue is a necessity, but it should not be "part of the present prickly relations between Russia and the West." "An international format is available, namely, the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs, who are responsible for the conflict settlement," Mr Beglaryan said.
Since the c remains unsettled, Russian peacekeepers must stay in Nagorno-Karabakh without any time limits. The NKR authorities want Russian peacekeepers to be present as Azerbaijan is unwilling for negotiations based on three principles proposed by international mediators: territorial integrity, people's right to self-determination and nonuse of force or threat of force. "After the conflict is settled, the NKR and Russia could discuss further presence of peacekeepers. They could stay here if necessary. At present, however, their presence in Nagorno-Karabakh is vital," Mr Beglaryan said.