ARMENIAN DEFENSE MINISTER EXPLAINED WHAT CONCESSIONS ARMENIA CAN MAKE ON KARABAKH CONFLICT

PanARMENIAN.Net - "It is obvious for me that the settlement of the Karabakh conflict can be resolved peacefully, on the basis of concessions", Armenian Defense Minister Serge Sargsian stated during the parliamentary hearings with the subject "Nagorno Karabakh problem: Ways of Settlement", Armenpress agency reports. The Minister explained what concessions the Armenian party can make. "As a principal concession we consider the fact that Armenian has not recognized the Nagorno Karabakh Republic so far, though the NKR was formed in accord with law and exists as an independent democratic state for many years. It is the demonstration of good will to preserve the process of peaceful settlement within the frames of the OSCE Minsk Group", S. Sargsian noted. As the second concession the Minister named the item of the CE resolution 1416, which says that the territory's (i.e. Nagorno Karabakh) independence of the state (i.e. Azerbaijan) can be achieved only via a legal and peaceful process of democratic will of the population of the given territory. In this context Serge Sargsian pointed out to the proposal of NATO PA President Pierre Lellouche on conduction of a referendum among the population of the former Nagorno Karabakh autonomy on the issue of democratic self-determination of Nagorno Karabakh. Touching upon the third concession Serge Sargsian noted that negotiations can be held on the security zone. "I am not the adherent of returning the territories forming the security belt. But I think that via negotiations we can make certain concessions under the term that the Azeri party will provide guarantees of non-resumption of war, which will be confirmed by the guarantees of authoritative international organizations and states", Serge Sargsian stressed.