Interfax News Agency, Russia
Oct 27 2008
ARMENIAN LEADER URGES AZERBAIJAN TO RECOGNIZE RIGHT OF
NAGORNO-KARABAKH OF SELF-DETERMINATION
*** Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan said he thinks it’s possible
that the problem of Karabakh can be settled, if Azerbaijan recognizes
the right of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh to self-determination.
"The settlement of the problem is possible, if Azerbaijan recognizes
the right of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh to self- determination, if
Nagorno-Karabakh has a land border with Armenia and international
organizations and leading nations guarantee the security of the people
of Nagorno-Karabakh," he said in an interview with Armenian Public TV.
Sargsyan said that the hostilities in the Caucasus last August once
again proved that there is no military solution to the Karabakh
conflict.
Speaking of the planned Moscow meeting of the presidents of Russia,
Armenia and Azerbaijan and the announcement of Turkish President
Abdullah Gul that Yerevan had asked him to mediate the settlement of
the conflict Sargsyan said that the settlement process is taking place
in the framework of the OSCE Minsk group and on the basis of the
Madrid principles.
"It has been said many times and we repeat it now that there are no
other mediators. The only mediators are the cochairmen of the Minsk
group and the chaos they are now trying to create is not helping us in
any way. So once again – the only mediators are the Minsk Group
cochairmen. Armenia has never asked any other country to act as a
mediator," Sargsyan said.
At the same time he expressed the opinion that Turkey could contribute
to the settlement in Karabakh.