Vartan Oskanian: Lachin corridor issue never discussed during talks

PanARMENIAN.Net - Finally a chance occurred for settling the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian stated at the interview to Austrian newspaper Der Standart. He said, currently Armenia and Azerbaijan discuss a text, which is very rational and since we agreed on various moot points, "this document offers a real chance for reaching an agreement." Speaking about how close the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement is, the RA FM said, "Close" is a relative notion. I mean, if compared with the previous text, we've approached the solution. But we all must continue the talks over its principles."



Mr. Oskanian underlined the issue of Lachin corridor has not been discussed. "This corridor is a guarantee of free and unhampered communication between Armenia and the Nagorno Karabakh. But it must be viewed as a part of Nagorno Karabakh. Recently the Azeri side tried to push forward the idea of its common use. But it has never been a subject of talks. The international mediators too immediately rejected that idea," Oskanian stressed.



The Armenian FM reminded that country's former President Levon Ter-Petrossian had to resign since he tried to settle the problem step by step. "He was ready to return territories, which now are under Armenia's control, but without clear definition of Nagorno Karabakh's future status. It was unacceptable for the Armenian society. Today's difference is that all moot points are components of agreement, if even its realization will be carried out step by step," Vartan Oskanian said.