Nagorno Karabakh Republic has never had any relation to independent Azerbaijan

February 17, 2011 - 17:24 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Shavarsh Kocharyan said that recent statements of the Azerbaijani leadership are aimed at failing the negotiation process, as well as complete falsification and distortion of the essence of the Karabakh problem.

These are attempts to avoid responsibility for the aggression unleashed by the Azerbaijani leadership against Nagorno Karabakh and ethnic cleansings of the Nagorno Karabakh population.

“I have to remind that the Azerbaijani leadership’s statement on its adherence to the peace process is untrue. If the current Azerbaijani leadership were wise enough, a progress would have been recorded in the negotiation process. It is necessary to negotiate with Nagorno Karabakh instead of pretending that there is not such a subject. The Nagorno Karabakh Republic has never had any relation to independent Azerbaijan.

We and Nagorno Karabakh are adhered to a comprehensive peace settlement of the conflict based on all norms of the international law, as required by the statement in Astana, what is supported by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs and international community.

We will actually achieve a comprehensive peace only based on all principles of the international law and without excluding the basic side of the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict – Nagorno Karabakh Republic. Any attempts of blackmail, militaristic threats are not only doomed to failure in advance, but they have been the main barrier for advancement of the settlement process,” Kocharyan said in an interview with Mir All-Russian State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company.