Karabakh status can’t be left hanging in midair: Deputy Foreign Minister

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Armenian sides do not oppose the step-by-step settlement of the Karabakh conflict; however, Azerbaijan should first recognize the independence of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister said.

“Then, Baku has to return the occupied territories (parts of Martakert region and Shahumyan) and start talks with Karabakh on further clarification of the state border,” Shavarsh Kocharyan said in an interview with the Public Radio of Armenia.

The Deputy Foreign Minister noted that all documents – the Madrid Principles, the Kazan document – actually propose a package for bringing the approaches of all parties closer through mutual concessions.

“Formally backing the package, Azerbaijan, in essence, puts the emphasis on points that it would benefit from,” Kocharyan said, adding, however, that all the provisions of documents on the negotiating table need to be reconsidered after the recent aggression unleashed by Azerbaijan.

According to the official, the recent developments showed that Azerbaijan has not abandoned its military rhetoric and hatred for Armenians.

He reminded that the trilateral agreements on ceasefire and the strengthening of ceasefire of 1994 and 1995 stay in place until a final political deal is reached. “By trying to denounce the agreements, Azerbaijan waives its international commitments,” he added. “There are no guarantees that Azerbaijan will not reject another agreement in the future. It’s impossible to move forward without taking this into consideration.”

The Deputy Foreign Minister added that the issue of Karabakh’s status should not be left hanging in midair, while speaking about territories is currently a blunder “for at least two reasons.”

First, he said, only Nagorno Karabakh is entitled to speak about territories. Second, he noted, speaking about concessions is useless, when the rival rules out any status for Karabakh.

“Unilateral concessions are impossible,” he stressed.

Also, Kocharyan said resumption of talks is senseless as long as Azerbaijan is shooting.