RA MFA: speaking of any territorial concessions senseless

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Shavarsh Kocharyan said that currently Azerbaijan is toughening its stance on Nagorno Karabakh, being guided by all-or-nothing principle.

“Recent statements by Turkish officials have also contributed to this,” Kocharyan told journalists on May 27.

“As a result, Elmar Mammadyarov says that the conflict will be resolved as soon as “the Azerbaijani flag is waving over Khankendi (Stepanakert),” Kocharyan said.

“Taking into consideration such statements, Armenia believes that the only acceptable solution is the preservation of the current status-quo. And it makes no sense speaking of any concessions, which will weaken our positions against the background of similar bellicose statements,” he said.

Kocharyan added that Armenia cannot and will not cede any territory. “The conflict is between Azerbaijan and NKR. And if Baku wants to display a constructive approach, let it recognize NKR independence and withdraw its troops from the occupied territories of Karabakh – Shahumyan and Getashen. For us, the most important issue is the status of Nagorno Karabakh; all the other matters will be solved between Baku and Stepanakert. As for negotiations, they will continue within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group based on three principles: the people’s right to self-determination, non-application of force and principle of territorial integrity. Finally, OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs speak about Karabakh’s immediate participation in the negotiations,” the Deputy Foreign Minister said.

Kocharyan also noted that Baku lacks both internal and foreign policy. “It has only propaganda. The leadership does not care what ordinary people think. As for its foreign policy, they are interested in voicing “occupation, one million of refugees” words rather than in the process of the Karabakh conflict resolution. However, Armenia should be more active to present its stance to the international community. Azerbaijan could save its face, agreeing to the problem resolution based on the Madrid Principles,” Kocharyan concluded.