Armenian leadership will make every effort in achieving progress in the Nagorno Karabakh peaceful settlement in 2010, " RA Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan told students and faculty of Yerevan State University today.

According to the minister, NKR cannot be part of Azerbaijan. "In this context, we raise three questions: the right of NKR people to self-determination should be respected, Nagorno Karabakh should have a land connection with Armenia and its security must be ensured by international guarantees," defense minister stressed.

Karabakh-Azerbaijani conflict started in 1988. In response to peaceful demands of the Armenians of Karabakh, constituted 80 per cent of the population of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region (Nagorny Karabakh), Azerbaijan had unleashed aggression against the peaceful population. As a result of the national-liberation war of 1991-1994 Nagorno Karabakh Republic was proclaimed. NKR Defense Army has also established a security zone around Nagorno Karabakh, including the 7 regions. On May 11, 1994, agreement was reached on the cease-fire (Bishkek Protocol). Currently, France, the United States and Russia, OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs are involved in the settlement of the conflict.