RA President: Baku tries to force MG to retreat from its positions

PanARMENIAN.Net - A peaceful resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict may be achieved via talks, Armenia's President Serzh Sargsyan told a news conference today.



"Potential for a peaceful solution has not been exhausted yet. During a meeting in Saint Petersburg, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev demonstrated willingness to continue talks," he said.



Commenting on Baku's discontent with the talks, President Sargsyan said, "There is nothing to worry about as long as Baku slams the Minsk Group activities. Resorting to tricks, Baku tries to force the MG to retreat from its positions and satisfy Azeri claims. However, it hampers the negotiation process."



As to Azerbaijan's threats to resolve the conflict with the use of force, Mr Sargsyan said that at least two officials in the country - the President and Defense Minister - should be ready for hostilities. "I will spare no effort for development of our armed forces," he said.



Asked about the recent visit of Russia's President Medvedev to Baku and about the Russian-Azeri Declaration, the RA President said he doesn't see problems in development of relations between Russia and Azerbaijan. "The most important thing is that they should not develop at expense of the Armenian-Russian relations," he said.



"I fully disagree with the opinion that recognition of Azerbaijani territorial integrity by Medvedev is the failure of the Armenian foreign policy. Every President should recognize both territorial integrity of any country and the right of nations to self-determination," President Sargsyan said.