Nalbandian: Azerbaijan refuses to confirm principles of Karabakh  conflict settlement, presented by co- chairmen 

ArmInfo.Undoubtedly, the peaceful resolution of the Nagorno- Karabakh conflict is the highest priority of Armenia's foreign policy. This was announced on October  19 during his speech at the fourth assembly of Armenia.  He reminded  that three days ago in Geneva the meeting of the Presidents of  Armenia and Azerbaijan was held.

"As for the results of the meeting itself, they are reflected in the joint statement of the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group and the Council of Europe. The meeting was held  in a constructive atmosphere.  The presidents agreed to take measures  on public relations. Satisfied with the resumption of direct talks  after the end of the break. They expressed their readiness to  continue the mediation mission with a term in the direction of  entering a peaceful settlement of the conflict. Next year we will  have full access to information about us.

At the same time, the minister recalled that the Armenian side  constantly stands for resolving the conflict through negotiations and  reducing tension, and this is all reflected in the joint statement.  According to him, after a 16-month break, thanks to the competent  mediation of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs, it was possible to  organize a meeting of the presidents of the two countries, which in  itself can already be considered positive.

According to Nalbandian, for the first time in about 4 years it  became possible to adopt a joint statement with the participation of  Armenia, Azerbaijan and the mediators. At the same time, he added  that Armenia has repeatedly expressed its readiness to join the  statement of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs, however, Azerbaijan  constantly refuses to make a joint statement. "At the same time,  unfortunately, after the summit of presidents, Baku again and again  tries to resort to cheap and primitive speculation that, supposedly,  there was an agreement not to talk about settling the conflict." Baku  is probably sticking to this tactic in order to avoid responsibility  for its own destructive policy. First, the damage caused to the  negotiation process by last April's aggression of Azerbaijan towards  Artsakh has not yet been eliminated, and secondly, Baku refuses to  carry out Vienna and St. Petersburg which are aimed at creating the  appropriate conditions for the promotion of the negotiation process,"  the Armenian Foreign Minister said and added that Azerbaijan had  previously repeatedly abandoned the agreements reached, thereby  questioning the ability to fulfill them at all. 

Thirdly, according to Nalbandian, Azerbaijan refuses to confirm the  principles of the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,  presented by the countries as co-chairmen as the basis for the  settlement of the problem, in particular, non-use of force, the right  of peoples to self-determination and territorial integrity.   "Fourthly, despite the numerous appeals of the mediators, to respect  the trilateral ceasefire agreements of 1994-95, Baku continues to  flagrantly violate the ceasefire." Yes, Armenia is convinced that it  is necessary to conduct intensive negotiations. "We are deeply  convinced that if Baku executes calls for mediators, fulfills the  agreements reached earlier, confirms adherence to the principles of  the conflict settlement proposed by the mediators, makes a  constructive contribution to the negotiation process, it will become  possible to promote the peaceful process", said the head of the  Armenian Foreign Ministry. At the same time, he added that Armenia,  along with the countries of the mediators, will continue to make  efforts for an exceptionally peaceful settlement of the conflict.

He also cited the provision of the European Council convention  adopted in 1999, which states that Nagorno-Karabakh proclaimed its  independence, as well as all other Soviet republics. "Of course,  Nagorno- Karabakh has never been part of independent Azerbaijan, as  President Serzh Sargsyan repeatedly noted, and it can never be,"  Nalbandian concluded.