YEREVAN. – Nagorno-Karabakh could have declared its independence from Armenia in 1991, professor of Yerevan State University Aleksander Manasyan told at a press conference on Wednesday.

That step would have introduced the conflict differently, having solved many issues, which came forward later.

“Passed 20 years was indeed a torture for Karabakh, who survived with honor. It may serve for a sample of a state in the region with various criteria, state, society, democracy, and politics among them,” Manasyan told. “When former Minsk group mediator, U.S. incumbent Ambassador to Azerbaijan Matthew Bryza claimed that Karabakh belongs to Azerbaijan, we told him to present a document and Armenians will grant him $ 5 million. However, no such legal document exists.”

In response to Armenian News-NEWS.am reporter’s question, why the conflict is still pending in case there is no legal document, professor replied that first, international community may not wish to see the conflict solved. Second, not even Armenians are aware of all nuances and details of the conflict, let alone other foreign experts.

Manasyan also added that Azerbaijan has never declared self-determination of nation, even after the collapse of the Soviet Union.