Ter-Petrosyan: Russia holds key to resolving Karabakh conflict

PanARMENIAN.Net - Russia holds the key to resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and normalizing relations with Turkey, first president of Armenia Levon Ter-Petrosyan said in a piece published by Ilur.am.

Ter-Petrosyan on Thursday, April 1 posted excerpts from his previous speeches and statements about the matter.

According to him, disregard for the importance of what he described as the Russian factor in the settlement of the Karabakh conflict by former and current authorities of Armenia has become one of the main reasons for what happened in Artsakh (Karabakh).

"In my speeches, interviews and publications, I have repeatedly expressed the idea that “the key to the settlement of the Karabakh issue is in the hands of Russia”, which has been perceived with bewilderment or irritation by political forces, expert circles and the authorities of the time," Ter-Petrosyan said.

He added that regardless of their preferences, any government in Armenia should seek solutions to these vital problems in this geopolitical context.

"This behavior is not connected with desires or orientations, but exclusively with the awareness of reality and the imperative of political realism," said the ex-president.

"Unfortunately, almost all the political circles and state bodies, the government and in particular the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are making obvious statements, connecting their hopes for the settlement of the Karabakh issue with the OSCE Minsk Group. This trend is fraught with new disappointments, if not heavy losses."

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Russian and Azerbaijani Presidents Vladimir Putin and Ilham Aliyev on November 9 signed a statement to end the war in Karabakh after almost 45 days. Under the deal, the Armenian side has returned all the seven regions surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh, having lost a part of Karabakh itself in hostilities.