Answer of Deputy Foreign Minister Shavarsh Кocharyan to the question by “Aysor.am” news agency
Question: Mr. Kocharyan, how would you comment on today’s statements of the President of Azerbaijan regarding the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict?
Note, Ilham Aliyev said: “It is true that Armenia is trying to avoid negotiations. But Armenia will not succeed and will be forced to return to negotiations no matter how well it tries, because they are well aware in which direction the situation will develop, if the negotiations are not conducted. Of course, our position at the negotiation table has been reinforced after the April battles, and the entire international community has seen it.”
Answer: Within the context of the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict the only internal issue of Azerbaijan is preparation of its own population for the settlement of the issue based on the principles presented by the mediators, which include the determination of the status of Nagorno-Karabakh through the legally binding expression of will of the people of Artsakh.
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The statements of the President of Azerbaijan are yet another attempt to distract the attention of internal audience from the problems of deep-rooted family-run authoritarian regime in the country, widespread violation of fundamental human rights and continuous persecution of dissidents. Instead of preparing its nation for peace, those statements are aimed at ignoring severe consequences of Azerbaijan’s aggression against Nagorno-Karabakh in 90s and entrapping its people into a new adventure, in order to preserve the hereditary power.