Andrey Kelin, Director of the Fourth Department for the CIS, RF Ministry of Foreign Affairs, accused Azerbaijani journalists of misquoting him and called on them not to seek sensations or implications where they are not.

On September 24, Andrey Kelin talked to a large number of journalists from the South Caucasus. Azeri mass media, particularly APA and Trend, later misquoted him.

NEWS.am sent a letter of enquiry to the Russian foreign office and asked for comments on Mr. Kelin’s statements quoted by the Azeri mass media, namely, that Armenia does not insist on Nagorno-Karabakh’s participation in the negotiations because it is fraught with an unfavorable atmosphere. “Armenia used to hold the opinion that Nagorno-Karabakh was to be part of it” (nothing has changed since – ed.) and “it is impossible to call Nagorno-Karabakh a negotiator, as Azerbaijan considers it its integral part.”

“First, I should note I am not going to make any comments on what I have never said or on any interpretations. Unfortunately, I found other inaccuracies in the news released by the news agencies, which reported information on my talk with a large group of South Caucasus journalists on September 24. The talk lasted for about hour and a half. We discussed various topics, mostly the consequences of the August 2008 events, prospects of relations with Georgia, Abkhazia and South Ossetia. There were a number of questions concerning the situation in the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process. I remember well that Nagorno-Karabakh’s future status was not discussed. However, the negotiation format was really discussed. I answered that the negotiations had been held for about 20 years and hardly anyone knows all the details. The format has changed during this period as well. Nagorno-Karabakh representatives are known to have participated in the talks at the initial stage. However, it has not been the case recently. The sides must have arrived at the understanding that this format is rational at the current stage. I am sure that the Nagorno-Karabakh side is still actively cooperating with Yerevan in dealing with this serious problem. It does not mean, however, that Nagorno-Karabakh will not take part in the negotiations in the future. The conflicting parties have to agree on the time.

“I would like to advise the journalists to be more careful about what they say or write, especially in respect to such a sensitive problem as the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process, without seeking sensations or implications they are not. We have not changed out approaches.”

NEWS.am informed readers that the APA News Agency (Azerbaijan) quoted Kelin as follows: “It is possible to call Nagorno-Karabakh a third negotiator in the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process. Otherwise, in this configuration, the sides will not agree on anything. True, Yerevan used to insist on Nagorno-Karabakh’s participation in the negotiation process. But that was when the Armenian side believed Nagorno-Karabakh was to be part of Armenia or a fully independent state. Later, however, the views changed. Under certain presidents, I would not like to name them, it was decided to do without it, because it created a non constructive atmosphere. Two sides can reach an agreement, but it is impossible to agree on anything in this configuration.”