"The peaceful settlement of the Karabakh conflict has no alternative at the moment. Life has shown that war cannot solve the problem: we have won the war but the problem remained. In the conditions of mutual hatred the resolution of the problem is impossible", Nagorno Karabakh President Arkady Ghukasian said during the meeting with the teaching staff and students of the Artsakh State University, IA Regnum reports. At the same time the Karabakh leader noted that today the conflicting parties are not ready to settle the problem. "There exist desirable positions and real positions: it is clear that none of the parties can get everything without making concessions. Today we cannot speak about concessions as mutual hatred reigns between Azeris and Armenians and this hatred is being artificially developed by Azerbaijan, where the image of Armenian-enemy is being fomented. One can make concessions to a friend or opponent but by no means to an enemy", the President stated. To improve the situation Arkady Ghukasian highlights the spreading of corresponding propaganda and development of public opinion.
"We understand that Azerbaijanis are our neighbors and we should do our best to avoid war and secure peace in our region. I am convinced that it possible with the good will of the parties to conflict", A, Ghukasian said. He rated Baku's militaristic statements as blackmail and attempt to frighten NKR. "We abide by the peaceful settlement of the conflict but in case of war we are ready to defend our homeland. I am sure the Azeri leadership knows that", the President stressed. By rejecting the possibility of talks with Karabakh Azerbaijan is to account for the absence of active negotiation process within the frames of the OSCE Minsk Group, Arkady Ghukasian considers. "Nagorno Karabakh remained beyond the negotiation process, though everyone knows that the problem cannot be settled without taking into consideration the opinion of the people and leadership of Karabakh. I am convinced that the negotiation process within the frames of the OSCE Minsk Group will be resumed with the participation of Nagorno Karabakh", he said.
Noting the importance of the meeting of the Presidents and FMs of Armenia and Azerbaijan, Arkady Ghukasian stressed that these meetings cannot replace the negotiation process within the frames of the OSCE Minsk Group. When touching upon the internal political processes Arkady Ghukasian emphasized that NKR succeeded in creating the basis for democratic development. "I am far from thinking that we have formed a democratic state, but we have reached considerable achievements on this path. We should become a country, which lives in accord with the international standards", Arkady Ghukasian resumed.