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.