Karabakh's status should not remain indefinite – Armenian deputy foreign minister
03.05.2016,
12:45
Nagorno Karabakh's status should not remain indefinite, since the Azerbaijani side may waive its commitments at any moment, Shavarsh Kocharyan, Armenian deputy foreign minister, said in an interview with Armenian Public Radio.
YEREVAN, May 3. /ARKA/. Nagorno Karabakh's status should not remain indefinite, since the Azerbaijani side may waive its commitments at any moment, Shavarsh Kocharyan, Armenian deputy foreign minister, said in an interview with Armenian Public Radio.
In his words, Armenia has always favored a package version of Karabakh conflict settlement, while Azerbaijan sought a stage-by-stage mode of settlement, which meant cession of territories to it and then discussion of other issues.
«If so, we propose another scenario – Nagorno-Karabakh Republic recognition by Azerbaijan and return of the occupied territories which are now controlled by Azerbaijan, these are parts of Martuni and Martakert regions as well as Shahumyan region, and after that they can negotiate with Nagorno-Karabakh Republic over specification of borders,» he said.
Kocharyan said that mediators' all documents were based on a package mode, which implied that the sides will bring their stances closer to each other by making concessions, but Azerbaijan, supporting the package settlement only formally, put special emphasis on the points beneficial to it, distorting the process and seeking a stage-by-stage settlement.
The deputy minister said that Azerbaijan's recent aggression against Nagorno-Karabakh Republic as well as atrocities and horrifying war crimes committed in the manner of international terrorists showed that everything on what settlement proposals were based now need revision.
Things showed, he said, that Azerbaijan remained stuck to its coercive policy and Armenia-phobia.
Kocharyan said that two agreements were signed in 1994. One of them was signed for stopping military actions and establishing a ceasefire and the second stated that the first one is valid until a big agreement is signed. Besides, another agreement, strengthening the ceasefire, was signed in 1995.
“It means Azerbaijan has international commitments under these agreements, and if it waives its obligations today, it may do the same also in the future,” he said. “We should clearly understand that we deal with an entity that may waive its commitments at any moment, and it is impossible to go forward without taking into account this circumstance. Karabakh’s status can’t be indefinite.”
Kocharyan said Azerbaijan has always tried to get rid of the mentioned documents, but not for it relied on force.
The thing is that there are three international documents signed by Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, as an entity, and this means that Azerbaijan has recognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic at least as a side of the conflict.
Baku has even made attempts to replace these agreements with verbal cease-fire arrangements after tension escalated in April.
The deputy minister also said that it is at least necessary to stop shooting to embark on negotiation.
Besides, in his words, only Nagorno Karabakh can speak about territories, but now, when Azerbaijan doesn’t recognize any status of Karabakh, it is senseless to speak about it.
“There is no such thing as unilateral concessions,” Kocharyan said. --0---
In his words, Armenia has always favored a package version of Karabakh conflict settlement, while Azerbaijan sought a stage-by-stage mode of settlement, which meant cession of territories to it and then discussion of other issues.
«If so, we propose another scenario – Nagorno-Karabakh Republic recognition by Azerbaijan and return of the occupied territories which are now controlled by Azerbaijan, these are parts of Martuni and Martakert regions as well as Shahumyan region, and after that they can negotiate with Nagorno-Karabakh Republic over specification of borders,» he said.
Kocharyan said that mediators' all documents were based on a package mode, which implied that the sides will bring their stances closer to each other by making concessions, but Azerbaijan, supporting the package settlement only formally, put special emphasis on the points beneficial to it, distorting the process and seeking a stage-by-stage settlement.
The deputy minister said that Azerbaijan's recent aggression against Nagorno-Karabakh Republic as well as atrocities and horrifying war crimes committed in the manner of international terrorists showed that everything on what settlement proposals were based now need revision.
Things showed, he said, that Azerbaijan remained stuck to its coercive policy and Armenia-phobia.
Kocharyan said that two agreements were signed in 1994. One of them was signed for stopping military actions and establishing a ceasefire and the second stated that the first one is valid until a big agreement is signed. Besides, another agreement, strengthening the ceasefire, was signed in 1995.
“It means Azerbaijan has international commitments under these agreements, and if it waives its obligations today, it may do the same also in the future,” he said. “We should clearly understand that we deal with an entity that may waive its commitments at any moment, and it is impossible to go forward without taking into account this circumstance. Karabakh’s status can’t be indefinite.”
Kocharyan said Azerbaijan has always tried to get rid of the mentioned documents, but not for it relied on force.
The thing is that there are three international documents signed by Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, as an entity, and this means that Azerbaijan has recognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic at least as a side of the conflict.
Baku has even made attempts to replace these agreements with verbal cease-fire arrangements after tension escalated in April.
The deputy minister also said that it is at least necessary to stop shooting to embark on negotiation.
Besides, in his words, only Nagorno Karabakh can speak about territories, but now, when Azerbaijan doesn’t recognize any status of Karabakh, it is senseless to speak about it.
“There is no such thing as unilateral concessions,” Kocharyan said. --0---
