Azerbaijan’s attempts to reduce or dismiss the role of official Stepanakert in Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement are doomed to fail, according to Armenian political analyst.

“Nagorno Karabakh Republic is a direct party to the conflict and there can be no advancement in the resolution process without it. Though authorities of Karabakh don’t partake in the high-level meetings between Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan, OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs conduct negotiations with them and de-facto confirm the role of Artsakh as a direct conflict side as a part of their visits to the South Caucasus,” Alexander Manasyan said.