Oskanyan: participation of NK in negotiations is inevitable

Regnum, Russia
Oct 8 2005

Head of MFA of Armenia: participation of Nagorno Karabakh in
negotiations is inevitable

`The positions of Armenia and Azerbaijan on some principal issues of
the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement have drawn together. We can
hope that soon it will be put on paper’, stated FA Minister of
Armenia Vardan Oskanyan.

Concerning the possibility of changing the negotiation format, from
OSCE Minsk Group to the European Council (on which the Azerbaijani
side insisted), Armenian foreign minister said that `useful’
negotiations could be everywhere. `But for full-fledged discussions
of problem settlement there is only one structure – the OSCE Minsk
Group. Azerbaijan can ask for format change; it’s the country’s
right. But it’s clear that Nagorno Karabakh conflict must be settled
in the format of the OSCE MG. It is recognized by the international
community’, stated Vardan Oskanyan, adding that we should distinguish
different place of discussion and different negotiations structures.
Then, the minister stated that `if tomorrow new format of discussion
would be chosen, we accept, but now there is no alternative to the
OSCE MG.’

Talking about the participation of Nagorno Karabakh in the
negotiations, FA Minister of Armenia said that it was inevitable.
`Once, Nagorno Karabakh will become a rightful participant of the
negotiations. Azerbaijani side also realizes this’, he noted. He also
expressed hope, that Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement would be
possible after the Azerbaijani parliamentary elections.