May 13, 2009 - 14:09 AMT
RA MFA: Karabakh conflict resolution was possible in 2001
Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian took part in the 119th meeting of Council of Europe Cabinet of Ministers in Madrid on May 12.

In his address to the meeting participants, Minister Nalbandian said in part, "Independence of Arstakh is an issue of security. Azerbaijan responded to it with ethnic cleansing which transformed into an open aggression. In 2001, the sides were close to an agreement on resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. However, Azerbaijan non-constructive approach frustrated peaceful plans."

"Meetings between Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents, signature of Moscow declaration and adoption of Helsinki statement are prerequisites for peaceful resolution of the conflict. If Azerbaijan renounces non-constructive methods and stops militaristic and anti-Armenian propaganda, the OSCE Minsk group may succeed in bringing positions of the sides closer," the Minister said, the RA MFA press office reported.