Armenia must launch a Nagorno-Karabakh recognition process simultaneously with the OSCE Minsk Group process, Arman Melikyan, the ex-minister of foreign affairs of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR), told Armenian News-NEWS.am.

"One thing will not hinder the other, especially since the Minsk process was doomed to reach a stalemate," Melikyan said. The only strong point is the territorial status quo. "However, we are losing from the moral and diplomatic points of view," he said.

One of the proposals is that Armenia might launch a process of recognizing the border between Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh. "Let the border run along the border of the former Armenian SSR. We stress thereby that Armenia has no territorial claims on any state north of it - neither Artsakh nor Azerbaijan - but remains within its borders, from the Araks River to the Murovdag," Melikyan said.

There may be a great many initiatives that would seriously facilitate the negotiation process. "If they are not taken, it means some forces outside Armenia benefit from it. In Armenia no one will actually oppose it," Melikyan said. In any case, Armenia will have to correct its foreign policy, he added. "Whether we like it or not, we will have to deal with it. So let us do it on our own will," Melikyan said.

Melikyan disagrees with the opinion that Armenia has taken a harder line on some points. "I do not see any changes in the line of conduct of foreign policy executives. Softer statements are made today, stronger-worded ones are made tomorrow. It does not change the essence of policy. It is just saber-rattling. And it is to no purpose, as we should not act like Azerbaijanis. They have the problem, but we do not need it. On the contrary, we must speak of peaceful construction, enabling refugees to settle down in the security zone. We have a lot of work. But it implies having a clear idea of what needs to be done and how. It is lacking now," Melikyan said.