Stepanakert: John Bolton`s expectations for the Azerbaijan-Karabakh  conflict settlement, they are not realistic, for various reasons

ArmInfo. The positions of  the Republic of Artsakh and the Republic of Armenia on the settlement are clear. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Artsakh Republic Masis Mailyan stated this in an interview with the ''Azat Artsakh''  republican newspaper. 

At the same time, he recalled that, for many years, the authorities  of the Republic of Artsakh have consistently stressed the need to  restore the trilateral format of the negotiations, with direct and  full participation of the Republic of Artsakh in all the stages,  which is crucial in facilitating a peaceful settlement and ensuring  the effectiveness of the process. ''The settlement, in turn, must be  based on the recognition of the fact that the people of Artsakh have  exercised their right to self-determination. In this regard, I  consider it necessary to confirm the willingness of the authorities  of Artsakh to de jure assume their share responsibility for ensuring  stability and peace in the region.  

Acting Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan also  stated the necessity to return Artsakh to the negotiation table,  which is also enshrined in the RA Government program''.

Referring to the statement by the United States National Security  Advisor to the President, John Bolton, according to which, after the  upcoming parliamentary elections in Armenia in December, Nikol  Pashinyan will receive a strong mandate, which will make it possible  to take a number of decisive steps in some areas, including solving  the Karabakh problem, Mailyan expressed conviction: ''As to John  Bolton's expectations for the Azerbaijan-Karabakh conflict  settlement, they are not realistic, for various reasons''.  '' We  have repeatedly expressed our stance on the readiness to establish  bilateral friendly relations with Iran. Taking into consideration  that we have a 138-km-long border with Iran, we hope that the  U.S.-Iran disputes will have a peaceful settlement and the  developments around Iran will not have a negative impact on the  Armenian states''.

As to the statement by the U.S. diplomat, Richard Mills, I should  note that the Azerbaijan-Karabakh conflict is not territorial. And it  is not accidental that, according to Mills himself, the Armenian  society does not accept any prospect related to territorial  concessions.

Over the years, I have had the opportunity to brief various  international experts and diplomats on why this conflict is not a  territorial dispute. In particular, the issue is that in 1988, when  the new stage of the conflict began, the territory around the former  NKAO, even one of the NKAO districts, was under the control of  Azerbaijanis. That is to say that despite the fact that these  territories were controlled by Azerbaijanis, however, there did exist  a conflict. Therefore, it is illogical to believe that a territorial  concession from Artsakh can resolve the conflict.

All this indicates that seeking for the possibilities to resolve the  conflict based on territorial concessions has no prospect and does  not reflect the essence of the conflict.  As the President of the  Republic of Artsakh has repeatedly stated, the basis for resolving  the conflict should be the right of the people of Artsakh to a free  and safe life in its homeland'', Mailian summed up.