June 14, 2007 - 14:57 AMT
Azerbaijan impedes settlement of Karabakh conflict
"One of the major obstacles on the way of the Nagorno Karabakh conflicts settlement is the fact that Azerbaijan considers military resolution of the problem as an alternative to the negotiation process, RA Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian stated. He said, Baku tries to refuse from some agreed issues.

"One more reason for impeding the negotiation process is the fact that Azerbaijan adheres to hard-edged positions on several issues. Tough public statements in Azerbaijan and actions of that country in a number of international organizations are not concordant with the content of negotiations. We have repeatedly stated that it is impossible to reach agreements on the problem based on compromises without eliminating those obstacles," Vartan Oskanian underscored.

The RA FM thinks that Baku's tough position works against the country, which realizes that there is no military solution to the Karabakh problem.

"I want one more time to assure the Armenian nation that we will not speak about side issues without securing the right of NK people to self-determination. Territorial issues concern the security of Karabakh population. All other statements of the Armenian side have always been prudent and concordant with the letter and spirit of today's negotiation process," Oskanian stated in the interview to "Kentron" TV Company.