YEREVAN. – The deployment of peacekeeping forces is just a step in the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

National Assembly Vice President Eduard Sharmazanov, who is also spokesperson of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA), stated the aforesaid at a press conference on Wednesday.

To the query as to whether the RPA will agree to the deployment of peacekeeping troops into the Karabakh conflict zone, Sharmazanov responded that President of Armenia—and RPA Chairman—Serzh Sargsyan expressed a clear position on this matter.

“This issue is part of a comprehensive solution to the problem,” he noted. “The number one matter is to determine the status of Nagorno-Karabakh. Peacekeepers eliminate the consequences, not the causes [of this conflict].”

Eduard Sharmazanov added that there is no alternative the independence of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR/Artsakh).