Nagorno Karabakh cannot submit to official Baku, European Parliament rapporteur for the South Caucasus Per Gahrton told Arminfo agency. In his words, it is not important part of which country Karabakh comprises if "it lives autonomous life and provides itself with foodstuffs". Gahrton acknowledged that Nagorno Karabakh was a part of Azerbaijan, but, according to him, the problem can be settled by "opening the border with Armenia and establishing trade relations with it, thus securing free transportation through the territory of Karabakh and Armenia". "Such conditions could create opportunities for marathon negotiations as the core of the settlement lies not in the declaration of independence but in the establishment of friendly relationships between the countries and self-efficiency of domestic policy", Gahrton said. In his words, the desire of the involved parties to settle the Karabakh conflict is the issue of utmost importance. However it can only become possible with the further preservation of armistice, opening of the borders and absence of discrimination of people due to citizenship. For example, similar measures were taken in the Scandinavian and European states when the issue of national belonging receded, Gahrton noted.