YEREVAN. - The aim of the military and political leadership of Armenia is to ensure the self-determination and independence of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR).

Armenian Defense Minster Seyran Ohanyan said the aforementioned at the press-conference on Tuesday, touching on the meeting to be held between the Armenian and Russian presidents in Moscow on Wednesday.

According to the Minister, unilateral concessions are out of the question. The activation of the negotiation process on the Karabakh issue settlement is a fact. In the Minister’s words, during this “activation”, the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs - especially upon the initiative of Russia - are carrying out work aimed at solving the Karabakh issue only and only by peaceful and political means.

“[The issue must be solved] By the way, which the military and political leadership and the President of Armenia have followed since the conclusion of the ceasefire agreement. And they have been carrying out work up to now so that the conflict can be finally resolved in the framework of mutual agreement and in the conditions of forming an atmosphere of confidence through dialogue and mutual understanding,” Ohanyan stressed.

According to him, all the international norms – non-use of force, self-determination of peoples and territorial integrity - should be observed in this process.

“Through juxtaposing all this, we must do our best to achieve our current aims, namely self-determined, free and independent NKR, as well as development of large community and extensive ties with Armenia.  We all understand that given the mutual agreement and dialogue, this readiness should be comprehensive.

I have always said and will reiterate today that if NKR is endangered -- that is in case of a new aggression -- the NKR Defense Army (NKR DA) in cooperation with the Armenian army will do its best to defend every inch of the NKR land,” Ohanyan concluded.