NK conflict must be settled based on Artsakh self-determination right – Nalbandian

Armenpress News Agency , Armenia
 Saturday


NK conflict must be settled based on Artsakh self-determination right
– Nalbandian



YEREVAN, DECEMBER 30, ARMENPRESS. The significant difference of
Armenia’s and Azerbaijan’s approaches in the NK conflict settlement
issue is that Azerbaijan attempts to present some made up proposals,
as if made by the Co-Chairs, present some made up negotiations
processes, which are false, Armenian FM Edward Nalbandian said in an
interview.

“The NK conflict settlement process, surely you know, is a long
lasting process. Why can’t we reach some results, I said this in my
speech in the OSCE ministerial council in Vienna and I put forward 9
reasons. Those 9 reasons are those obstacles, which Azerbaijan is
putting forward for many years, and due to these very obstacles it
isn’t possible to advance. The difference between us and Azerbaijan,
the significant difference lies in the very thing that Azerbaijan is
attempting to present some made up proposals, as if made by the
Co-Chairs, present come made up negotiations processes which are
false, because the statement made at the three co-chairing countries’
ministerial level during the Vienna summit – by Lavrov, Tillerson and
the French delegation head, once again reaffirmed that no, there are
specific proposals, principles, which are the basis of this
negotiations process”, the minister said.

Asked how can the tension be eased in the line of contact, the
minister said: “This was talked about and we had agreed during the
Vienna and St. Petersburg summits. And you know very well, and not
only you but everyone, that Azerbaijan was doing everything to pretend
that there are no agreements, was taking every step to fail these
agreements from realizing, and it even was saying that as if Armenia
had put forward pre-conditions. This was very far from the truth, and
the latest statement of the co-chairs proves this, that no, all
agreements must be implemented. But not only this. Let me open a bit
the bracket. I asked my colleague, I said ok, the presidents agreed to
take additional steps for minimizing the tension. Can Azerbaijan today
reaffirm the commitment for the 1994-1995 trilateral, termless
ceasefire agreement? And this isn’t only our demand. This is the urge
which the co-chairing countries voice for many years. You know, both
Armenia and Karabakh have always said that yes, they are committed to
this agreement, while Azerbaijan is doing everything to step back from
this agreement. If Azerbaijan is unable to reaffirm its commitment for
the implementation of the ceasefire agreement, how can we speak about
minimizing tension in the line of contact, about true, significant
minimization”.

Nalbandian stressed that it’s about intensifying the negotiations.

Nalbandian mentioned the principles brought forward by the co-chairing
countries.

“We are committed to reach settlement based on those principles. Those
three principles are: territorial integrity, the equality and self
determination right of peoples and non use of force or the threat of
force. And I asked my colleague, whether or not today he is willing to
reaffirm commitment for these principles, because there was a time
when Azerbaijan agreed to them. During the 2009 OSCE ministerial
council in Athens, Azerbaijan factually agreed, and we made a
five-sided statement – the FMs of Armenia and Azerbaijan with the
co-chairing countries, where these very principles were written.
During the latest Vienna meeting Azerbaijan was once again unable to
reaffirm commitment. And what happened? The co-chairing countries once
again reaffirmed in their statement, yes, the international
community’s approach is that settlement must be based on the
fundamental principles of these three international rights, which
Armenia has for numerous times supported and supported settlement
based on these principles. “

The FM also stressed that a provision cannot be singled out from the
proposed settlement document, like Azerbaijan is doing. According to
him, it is a packaged proposal, and here there is the main proposal-
the final status of NK, which must be decided based on the
self-determination right of the people of NK.

“This self-determination must be realized through the free expression
of will, which must have international legal binding force, binding
for Azerbaijan also”, he said.

Nalbandian stressed that the NK conflict doesn’t get a solution
because Azerbaijan opposed not Armenia’s approach, but opposes the
stance of the international community.