Karabakh dismisses reports on secret talks on conflict settlement

President of the Nagorno Karabakah Republic Bako Sahakyan has turned down the reports on alleged pressure on Armenia and Karabakh with a view of forcing the Armenian side to concede several liberated territories surrounding Nagorno Karabakh, Russian RBC reports.

“The reports on alleged pressure on Armenia and Karabakh do not correspond to reality,” Sahakyan told a press conference in Moscow.

According to the President, the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict is impossible without the direct participation of Nagorno Karabakh. “This should be the starting point. There has been no precedent in the world of a destiny of a whole nation determined without its participation.” Therefore, he said, the format of negotiations determined at Budapest summit in 1994 needs to be restored.

Sahakyan reiterated his earlier position that the return of Nagorno Karabakh under Azerbaijani jurisdiction is impossible.

The NKR President blamed Baku for the escalation of situation at the line of contact. He said Baku’s actions should be taken seriously. “We cannot view this as a simple game. Unfortunately, many people are dying.”