Stepan Grigoryan: all sides to conflict should sign Madrid Principles

PanARMENIAN.Net - Head of the Analytical Center for Globalization and Regional Cooperation Stepan Grigoryan said that the Armenian leadership should in general terms agree to the statement of the Presidents of the OSCE Minsk Group’s Co-Chair countries. Prior to drafting the final peace agreement, it is necessary that all the sides to the conflict, including NKR, sign the Madrid Principles, Grigoryan told a press conference in Yerevan.

“Armenia should get guarantees from all the OSCE Minsk Group’s countries, including Turkey, that if Azerbaijan does not agree even with one provision of the agreement, these countries will unilaterally recognize NKR’s independence.

Besides, the RA authorities should undertake measures against the Azerbaijani propaganda. We should reiterate which side unleashed the war, and one cannot speak about Armenia’s “occupation” of Azerbaijani territories,” noted Grigoryan.

He added that if Azerbaijan does not agree with the interim status of NKR, Armenia should agree to it. “And if Baku does not agree with this status, the world community should recognize NKR’s independence,” the Armenian expert noted.

As for the return of territories comprising the security zone of NKR, Grigoryan said it is a long process.

Answering questions of a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter, he stated that if Armenia cedes even one village, it will violate the current balance. “In such case, Azerbaijan may launch a war. In addition, Armenia has not spoken about the return of Shahumyan, Getashen and Martunashen up to date. If it happens, the talks should be started from zero, what will lead to tenseness in the region,” concluded Grigoryan.