Baku discusses possibilities for granting Karabakh autonomous status

PanARMENIAN.Net - No need to overestimate Armenian and Azeri Presidents' recent meeting in Moscow, because much has to be done before signing a document on NKR conflict settlement, Professor Ruben Safrasatyan, Director of RA NAS Oriental Studies Institute, told a news conference in Yerevan.



Obama, Medvedev and Sarcozy's joint statement concerning Karabakh and the publication of Madrid Principles aimed to accelerate the process of introducing the basic principles to Armenia and Azerbaijan. The fact that Baku discusses the issue of granting Karabakh autonomous status was published for the first time. It was a shock for Baku," the expert stressed. During their meeting in Moscow, Presidents Sargsyan and Aliyev had open discussion over Karabakh status, he said.



"It is necessary to understand that NKR problem is a complicated process that cannot find a prompt solution. Parties have not so far signed any document. Talks are still under way, and Armenian diplomacy should use its best efforts to involve Stepanakert in the process," Safrastyan stated. As regards the return of lands in exchange for security guarantees, that's something to be determined exclusively by Nagorno Karabakh, the speaker said.