Armenian expert, head of European Integration NGO Karen Bekaryan sees a certain provocation in the recent statement by Azeri President Ilham Aliyev who ruled out provision of independence to Karabakh or the latter’s annexation to Armenia as an issue in negotiations.

As the expert noted, to decide the fate of Karabakh people, direct negotiations are necessary, while speaking from the position of threats or force has no perspective.

Commenting on Azeri Foreign Minister’s statement, suggesting an immediate passage to peace treaty development without confirming basic principles of conflict settlement, the expert said, “this way, Baku is attempting to indicate a line of retreat from current stage of negotiations, basically, torpedoing Madrid principles.”

“Hard as it is to mention it, yet, in fear of the reaction of Azerbaijani people, should a deceit of many years be discovered, Aliyev clan is clinging harder to current status quo in Karabakh conflict settlement,” the expert said.