The Nagorno-Karabakh people must determine their status by expressing their will. It is the cornerstone of resolution to the Karabakh conflict, RA Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian stated in an interview with the Russian Nezavisimaya Gazeta daily. The Minister stressed the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs have repeatedly pointed out the importance of involving Nagorno-Karabakh in the peace process.

Nalbandian noted the Russia-mediated ceasefire in 1994 was agreed and signed also by Nagorno-Karabakh. “Any agreement without involvement and signature of Nagorno-Karabakh does not make any sense,” he noted.

According to him, the focal point of the conflict settlement, and certainly the negotiation process is the enforcement of the Karabakh people’s right to self-determination. Evidence thereof is the fact that the Madrid documents contain some of the principles published after the Russian, U.S. and French Presidents (OSCE Co-Chair countries) issued a statement in L'Aquila July 2009, saying Karabakh’s status should be determined to by legally binding free expression of will by the Karabakh people. “Speaking of their readiness to grant a high status of autonomy to Nagorno-Karabakh within Azerbaijan, the Azeri leaders seek to predetermine the outcome of the will expression, rejecting the principle of self-determination as such. This principle is one of the basic principles of the Madrid documents, re-approved by the 56 OSCE Foreign Ministers in Athens, last December,” Nalbandian said.

He emphasized Azerbaijan rejects and flagrantly violates the second of the above mentioned fundamental principles, namely, non-use of force or threats to use force.

“Azerbaijan refuses to conclude an agreement on observing this principle, OSCE proposals to take measures to strengthen the ceasefire and withdraw snipers. After the Meindorf Declaration was adopted the Azerbaijani leaders said the points on a peaceful settlement of the conflict do not mean non-use of force. As the saying goes, no comments. Baku threatens to use force every day. Apparently this is done to torpedo the talks. It is difficult to convince anyone that you do accept the Madrid Principles while you reject most of them,” the Minister concluded.