Inclusion of experts from the UN Refugee Agency into OSCE MG Field Assessment Mission to Karabakh’s liberated territories was an important factor, according to former foreign minister of NKR Arman Melikyan.

As he told a news conference in Yerevan, the fact indicated was meant to exacerbate Armenia’s unfavorable position, suggesting OSCE MG co-chairs’ perceive the territories are to be returned to Azerbaijan. The ex-foreign minister did not rule out the possibility of signing a Karabakh conflict settlement road map till yearend.

Dwelling on Russia’s activities in conflict settlement, Melikyan said Moscow could use Karabakh’s liberated territories to restore its position in Azerbaijan.

Commenting on American –Armenian medicare fraud, he did not preclude that the incident will influence further settlement of Karabakh issue through pressure on Armenian authorities.

Melikyan characterized information of Azerbaijan’s purchase of 2S7 Pion self-propelled artillery system from Russia in 2009 as Moscow’s attempt to insinuate the treat of hostilities’ resumption in conflict zone to become involved in conflict settlement.

Commenting on the necessity of Armenia’s recognition of Karabakh independence, Melikyan said the issue should at first be discussed between Armenia and Artsakh.

Addressing Armenia-Turkey rapprochement, Melikyan noted there was never a normalization process going on. “There are Russian-Turkish as well as Turkish-American relations. Armenian-Turkish relations are, however, dependent on superpowers’ interests,” he concluded.