Armenia vows to advance Karabakh's right to self-determination

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Armenian side will consistently advance the realization of the right of the people of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) to self-determination, Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said in an interview with RIA Novosti on Wednesday, September 1.

"The Republic of Armenia has repeatedly stated at the highest level that it is ready to resume the peace process on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict on the basis of well-known principles, i.e. non-use of force or threat of force, equality and self-determination of peoples, and territorial integrity," Mirzoyan said.

"After the November 9 trilateral statement was signed, the co-chairs issued a number of statements. The Armenian side welcomed these statements, considering them to be a roadmap for peace in the region.

"Azerbaijan's failure to fulfill the obligations assumed by the trilateral statement of November 9 – primarily regarding the immediate return of all prisoners of war and other detainees, Azerbaijan's incursion into the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia, as well as false territorial claims against Armenia and, in general, the constant aggressive rhetoric of the Azerbaijani authorities – in no way contributes to the establishment of an atmosphere conducive to long-term and sustainable peace in the region."

Mirzoyan said establishing peace and stability in the region is Armenia's long-term strategy. He said Yerevan welcomes the mediating efforts of Russia in this direction, including for the resumption of the negotiation process on the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmanship.

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.