“This is simply a suggestion: not an ultimatum or moreover, a compulsion. It is natural that in case of different suggestions, the approaches of the sides should be taken into consideration. Generally, this scenario will not be possible to realize”, responded the Press Secretary to the NKR President, David Babayan, referring to the latest announcement made by the American Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, Richard Hoagland.
Let us remind you that on August 23 the American Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Richard Hoagland presented the 6 main points of Karabakh issue resolution. He made a particular indication to the status of the territory not controlled by Azerbaijan being within the territory of Karabakh Autonomous Oblast and giving the “occupied” territories nearby Nagorno Karabakh back to Azerbaijan’s control.
To our view implying that whether those approaches were not reflected in Madrid Principles as well, Mr. Babayan replied: “All similar approaches have been reflected in different principles – in Madrid ones included. No compulsion can be present here. The same Azerbaijan rejected it by violently commencing April War. This already shows that this option is not acceptable. Moreover, we also say that no return to past is possible, that Nagorno Karabakh cannot have Nagorno Karabakh Autonomous Oblast borders while interacting with a terrorist and fascist state as Azerbaijan, forasmuch as it will simply mean to attract the aggressor again to attack and destroy us.”
David Babayan emphasized once again that the points brought forth by the American Co-Chair are simply suggestions, they cannot be ultimatum or compulsion: “He has presented old principles: it does not mean that all parties have agreed upon that, especially when Artsakh does not participate in that level of negotiations at all. These are principles and approaches about which they speak since long ago. It does not mean that it is an ultimatum and is agreed upon with all parties and should become the basis of the resolution. Especially uncertainty is in place: it is not ascertained which are the parties, what a status based on the agreement of the parties means. Azerbaijan has never agreed on the independent status and the unification with the Republic of Armenia.”
To our question constituting what such announcement will give the negotiation process, especially when active meetings are held – Putin-Sargsyan https://www.aravot.am/2017/08/23/903695/, Aliyev-Sargsyan meeting is planned, Mr. Babayan answered: “I do not think that it is connected with those meetings. It is not excluded that this is simply a coincidence or other issues are in place. But I emphasize that this is not a compulsion, this is not an ultimatum, this is not fully agreed with the parties, moreover, official Stepanakert does not participate at all. This is a vision and it does not mean that this is it. How many similar documents have been prepared throughout these 25 years?”
Asked whether it is possible that this document is the result of Turkish and Azerbaijani propaganda, Mr. Babayan assured – if for Azerbaijan this document was acceptable it would have accepted it since long ago and would never start a war: “Even this indefinite document, where a number of questions and a lot of disputable issues for us relative to our future, security, morality, and psychology are in place, is not acceptable to Azerbaijan.”
Asked whether an official response should be expected from the Republic of Artsakh, Mr. Babayan responded that any option of the settlement should be decided by the whole nation, and people have expressed their will: “Whoever wants, I would have announced, so many administrations are in place.”
Tatev HARUTYUNYAN
