Armenian prime minister voices his position on Karabakh conflict
13.01.2017,
15:42
Speaking at the first news conference this year Armenian Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan has voiced his position on the Karabakh conflict.
YEREVAN, January 13. /ARKA/. Speaking at the first news conference this year Armenian Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan has voiced his position on the Karabakh conflict.
Asked about his stance on rumors that the Armenian side is preparing to cede several regions surrounding the administrative borders of Nagorno-Karabakh to Azerbaijan in return for a political status Karapetyan, a native of Nagorno-Karabakh, said he did not support such a settlement option.
Karapetyan said a settlement option can be found that would protect the self-esteem, security, and the victory of the Armenian people.
"It is illogical to speak today about the negotiations’ scenarios and their results. But the negotiations need to be continued. Mutual concessions relate not only to the territories, but also to status, and other aspects. I do not think that the person who is responsible for decision-making in Armenia, will take a decision that would be rejected by our citizens ", said Karapetyan.
He believes that the adoption of such a decision imposes a great responsibility, noting that he sees a person who can do it. "I do not think that we should worry too much about this question," - said Karapetyan.
The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict erupted into armed clashes after the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s as the predominantly Armenian-populated enclave of Azerbaijan sought to secede from Azerbaijan and declared its independence backed by a successful referendum.
On May 12, 1994, the Bishkek cease-fire agreement put an end to the military operations. A truce was brokered by Russia in 1994, although no permanent peace agreement has been signed. Since then, Nagorno-Karabakh and several adjacent regions have been under the control of Armenian forces of Karabakh.
Nagorno-Karabakh is the longest-running post-Soviet era conflict and has continued to simmer despite the relative peace of the past two decades, with snipers causing tens of deaths a year.
On April 2, 2016, Azerbaijan launched military assaults along the entire perimeter of its contact line with Nagorno-Karabakh. Four days later a cease-fire was reached. ---0---
Asked about his stance on rumors that the Armenian side is preparing to cede several regions surrounding the administrative borders of Nagorno-Karabakh to Azerbaijan in return for a political status Karapetyan, a native of Nagorno-Karabakh, said he did not support such a settlement option.
Karapetyan said a settlement option can be found that would protect the self-esteem, security, and the victory of the Armenian people.
"It is illogical to speak today about the negotiations’ scenarios and their results. But the negotiations need to be continued. Mutual concessions relate not only to the territories, but also to status, and other aspects. I do not think that the person who is responsible for decision-making in Armenia, will take a decision that would be rejected by our citizens ", said Karapetyan.
He believes that the adoption of such a decision imposes a great responsibility, noting that he sees a person who can do it. "I do not think that we should worry too much about this question," - said Karapetyan.
The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict erupted into armed clashes after the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s as the predominantly Armenian-populated enclave of Azerbaijan sought to secede from Azerbaijan and declared its independence backed by a successful referendum.
On May 12, 1994, the Bishkek cease-fire agreement put an end to the military operations. A truce was brokered by Russia in 1994, although no permanent peace agreement has been signed. Since then, Nagorno-Karabakh and several adjacent regions have been under the control of Armenian forces of Karabakh.
Nagorno-Karabakh is the longest-running post-Soviet era conflict and has continued to simmer despite the relative peace of the past two decades, with snipers causing tens of deaths a year.
On April 2, 2016, Azerbaijan launched military assaults along the entire perimeter of its contact line with Nagorno-Karabakh. Four days later a cease-fire was reached. ---0---
