Pashinyan: Armenia, Azerbaijan failed to agree on Karabakh wording

PanARMENIAN.Net - Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said that no agreement was reached between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the formulations on Nagorno-Karabakh conflict during an EU- mediated meeting on May 22.

Pashinyan, President of the European Council Charles Michel and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev held their third meeting since December in Brussels on May 22 and focused on the situation in the South Caucasus and the development of EU relations with both countries as well as the broader region. According to a statement from the EU, Michel told the two leaders that it was necessary that the rights and security of the ethnic Armenian population in Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) be addressed.

And because of a lack of agreement, Pashinyan said, Michel decided to make comments that, in his opinion, would express as many elements as possible about the positions of both sides over formulations

Pashinyan made the remarks during a Q&A session in parliament, in response to a question from Civil Contract Party member Arman Yeghoyan, who said that Michel's remarks created the impression that "Artsakh's right to self-determination remains out of the agenda".

"A very serious discussion on the Karabakh issue took place in Brussels, and as a result of that discussion, the differences between the positions of Armenia and Azerbaijan were registered," the Prime Minister as saying.

He emphasized that those differences are expressed publicly. Azerbaijan considers that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is resolved, Armenia considers that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is not resolved.

"And in the possible context of the peace talks, you know that Azerbaijan has presented its 5 principles, and we have presented our observations and agenda in this regard. We have said that talks should be held on that basis. With the principles we have brought forward, the security and rights of the Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh and the clarification of the final status of Nagorno-Karabakh are recorded," Pashinyan said.