15:03,

YEREVAN, MAY 26, ARMENPRESS. The interests of the Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh must be represented by the Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh themselves, through a Baku-Stepanakert dialogue under the auspices of an international mechanism, ruling Civil Contract party lawmaker Artur Hovhannisyan said at a press briefing when asked who should represent the interests of the Armenians in Nagorno Karabakh.

“The interests of the Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh must be represented by Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh themselves, through a Baku-Stepanakert format, under the auspices of international mechanisms. Armenia is now guided by the preservation of sovereignty over its 29,800 square kilometers territory and exercising the rights and security of the Armenians living in Nagorno Karabakh,” Hovhannisyan said.

The process must take place through dialogue between Baku and Stepanakert under international guarantees, the MP said.

“The Nagorno Karabakh conflict deepened after Robert Kocharyan left Nagorno Karabakh out of the negotiations process. We are now trying to return the representatives of Artsakh [Nagorno Karabakh] to the negotiation table and dialogue with Baku, where they will be able to exercise their rights the way they picture it,” Hovhannisyan said.

Hovhannisyan added that authorities of Armenia maintain permanent contact with their counterparts in Nagorno Karabakh and that the latter are aware of the details on the negotiation process.