by ARMENPRESS
“Only under an international format, and guarantees of implementation of obligations must be the most important component of such a process”
Nagorno Karabakh announced Thursday that a direct negotiations process with Azerbaijan would be possible only in an international format and in conditions of guarantees for implementation of obligations.
Nagorno Karabakh Foreign Minister Sergey Ghazaryan said at a press conference that Russia-mediated meetings have taken place between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan pertaining to various humanitarian and technical issues. Ghazaryan underscored that Azerbaijan attempted to distort the agenda of the latest meeting.
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The goal of that meeting was to discuss issues relating to the disruptions of the electricity and gas supplies, he said. “The attempts by Azerbaijan to distort the agenda of the meeting are unacceptable. But at the same time, we stand ready to have meetings in the same format, with the mediation of Russian peacekeepers, for the solution of the abovementioned issues,” Ghazaryan said when asked in which case the meetings could become negotiations.
Speaking about a full negotiations process, the FM said: “We’ve numerously said that such meetings can only take place in an international format. The substantiations are rather clear.”
Ghazaryan noted that if Azerbaijan even violated the agreements reached in the OSCE Minsk Group talks, then it would definitely violate bilateral agreements as well.
“Only under an international format, and guarantees of implementation of obligations must be the most important component of such a process,” Ghazaryan added.
Nagorno Karabakh officials rule out “integration” with Azerbaijan
Armenians and Azerbaijanis lived in Nagorno Karabakh for a certain period of time in the past, but have never been integrated with one another, and the integration narrative generated by Azerbaijan has never been reality, Nagorno Karabakh government officials said Thursday during a press conference. They ruled out the incorporation of the Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh into Azerbaijan.
Nagorno Karabakh Foreign Minister Sergey Ghazaryan said that their official position regarding the Azeri integration narrative remains the same – “Artsakh [Nagorno Karabakh] will continue its struggle for the international recognition of its exercised right to self-determination,” he said, adding that Russia, the US and France – the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs – bear responsibility for the current situation given that negotiations are taking place within the OSCE Minsk Group for many years.
Ghazaryan mentioned the latest multiple provocations by Azerbaijan.
“The Armenian side’s substantiations are so many that it is very clear, visible and understandable for everyone, including the international partners, that there can’t be a combination of the Armenians of Artsakh and Azerbaijan, this is simply ruled out,” he said.
Despite the hardships resulting from the blockade, the people of Artsakh remain committed to the path they chose and will utilize all efforts, expecting active participation of all partners, including the Armenian Diaspora.
Meanwhile, State Minister of Artsakh Gurgen Nersisyan said that they will work to fully and clearly present the origins and essence of the conflict to the international community.
Speaking about the integration narrative by Azerbaijan, Nersisyan said: “Indeed, the Armenians of Artsakh and the Azerbaijanis lived in Artsakh for a certain period of time, but they were never integrated with one another. During that entire period of time, numerous hate crimes were perpetrated by Azerbaijan against the Armenians of Artsakh because of their ethnicity. And the narrative generated by Azerbaijan, the so-called integration, has never been reality since the 20th century,” he said.
Azerbaijan tries to mislead the international community by advancing this narrative, he added.
Nagorno Karabakh FM warns of illegal Azerbaijani settlements in occupied territories
Azerbaijan is illegally populating the Armenian settlements of Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) under its occupation since the 2020 war, the Artsakh Foreign Minister Sergey Ghazaryan warned Thursday.
“The 9 November statement contains a clause whereby the parties assumed an obligation to create all conditions under the supervision of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees to ensure the dignified return of our countrymen. Nonetheless, in this situation, when Azerbaijan is making statements on the use of force or the threat of force every day, this is ruled out. We are saying that the parties must fulfill their obligations, first of all the Azerbaijani side, which is violating the terms of the statement,” Ghazaryan said.
