June 16, 2008 - 16:44 AMT
Baku's position nothing but badly-hidden political and diplomatic blackmail
Nagorno Karabakh's Foreign Minister Georgy Petrossian commented on Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov's statement on "some nuances" in Armenia's new leadership's stance, the NKR permanent representative office told PanARMENIAN.Net.

"I am not aware of any changes in Armenia's stance on the Azerbaijani-Karabahki conflict. As my Armenian counterpart has already stated, Armenia's position on Nagorno Karabakh is unchangeable," Georgy Petrossian said.

"NKR's standpoint has not changed either. Without agreement of the NKR people, no document on conflict settlement with Azerbaijan can be signed and all the more realized."

"Azerbaijan's position that peaceful settlement of the conflict is a compromise on its part is nothing but a badly-hidden political and diplomatic blackmail directed to mediators and Armenia. Official Baku has initially counted on the Azerbaijani-Karabakhi conflict settlement by pressure, threats and blackmail. Such a policy which aims at imposing their own scenario of conflict settlement not only threatens the negotiation process but also undermines the regional security and stability," he said.

Speaking about Tatarstan's model as a possible model of autonomy for Nagorno Karabakh, the NKR Minister said, "Azerbaijan's representatives do not take into consideration the fact that Tatarstan is a subject of a federative state. If Azerbaijan intends to become a federative state and grant the national minorities - Lezghins, Talyshs, Awarians, Udins, etc. - the status of federation subject it is the right of people of the Azerbaijani Republic. The given initiative can only be welcomed; however, we do not see us in this formation. We have made our choice. Our independence cannot be an article of commerce."