14:52, 28 November 2023

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 28, ARMENPRESS. Armenia fully recognizes the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, which includes Nagorno-Karabakh, Speaker of Parliament of Armenia Alen Simonyan said at a press briefing when asked whether the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has been resolved given that over the past thirty years Armenia struggled for the self-determination of Nagorno-Karabakh.

“The Republic of Armenia doesn’t have such an issue today. The Republic of Armenia fully recognizes Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity, including Nagorno-Karabakh. We’ve said this probably eight times during the last two years. What else should we say,” Simonyan said.

Asked whether Armenia would discuss the rights of Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians during peace talks with Azerbaijan, the Speaker said: “I think that at this historic phase we should focus on signing the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty and opening of all regional connections. Then, whether an Azerbaijani will or will not have the desire to return to live in Armenia, or whether an Armenian will or will not have the desire to return to Baku, Stepanakert, Shushi and all other towns where Armenians had lived, this is a matter of the future.” He added that as of today this is unrealistic.

Simonyan stressed that the return of Nagorno-Karabakh residents is impossible as long as peace isn’t established and hate speech isn’t eliminated.