The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs’ response to the Azerbaijani provocation on Jun 18 was not an adequate one, Giro Manoyan, Director of the Hay Dat and Political Affairs Office, ARF Dashnaktsutyun Bureau, told reporters on June 23. According to him, the intrusion was aimed at exerting pressure on the mediators and peace process.

“Azerbaijan aimed to affect the talks and frighten the Armenian side. The Co-Chairs’ statement was the evidence that they are not affected, on the contrary, they encourage Azerbaijan to keep it up,” Manoyan said. If the international community goes on showing such indulgence, it will mean to give the green light to Azerbaijan’s further such steps at any moment.

Responding to the NEWS. am reporters’ question concerning Armenia’s response to Azerbaijan’s provocations – whether Armenia should resort to provocations to influence the negotiations - Manoyan said: “One should speak of what one is aware of. I do not want to talk about hostilities and about who must do and what, but I think, our fault is we fail to undertake political actions rather than military or any other actions. Armenia should carry out serious diplomatic and political activities, which, however, does not mean hostilities can be ruled out.

“The political activities on Karabakh issue should be intensified. Adhering to the negotiation logic, we have not taken any parallel steps, whereas Azerbaijan both takes such steps, trying to change the settlement format, and attempts to create a situation by means of military actions,” Manoyan said.

He pointed out the necessity to actively oppose Azerbaijan’s anti-Armenian policy and explain the essence of the Karabakh conflict to different agencies. Armenia’s next step should be get Karabakh returned to the negotiating table. “Azerbaijan states it is not against Armenia. If it is true, Nagorno-Karabakh should have a right to directly defend its interests,” Manoyan said.