The OSCE member-nations, the Nagorno-Karabakh people being among them, are looking forward to the implementation of the Helsinki Principles, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan stated at the OSCE Summit in Astana, a NEWS.am correspondent reports from Astana.

“The people of Nagorno-Karabakh gained independence in 1991. That was followed by a referendum on independence. Nagorno-Karabakh exercised its right to self-determination on the basis of international and USSR laws. Two states were formed as a result: the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) and Azerbaijan,” the Armenian leader said.

Serzh Sargsyan stressed that it was Azerbaijan that launched military operations and ethnic cleansing. However, in 1994 Azerbaijan was forced to sign a ceasefire treaty.

“That time could have been used for constructive decisions, but Azerbaijan continued its aggressive military rhetoric, without realizing the consequences of its own aggression could not be eradicated without the cause of the conflict being removed. Even now Azerbaijan is increasing its military potential. The Azerbaijani leaders are even claiming that Armenia’s capital is the historical land of Azerbaijan and the cross-stone is a piece of Azerbaijani culture. If the cross-stone is really a piece of Azerbaijani culture, why were thousands of cross-stones destroyed in that country?” Sargsyan asked.

He stressed that Azerbaijan is not interested in settling the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. “Baku is interested in causing damage to the Armenian side. Armenia is strongly against a military settlement of the conflict. However, in the case of Azerbaijani military aggression Armenia will have no alternative but recognize Nagorno-Karabakh as an independent state, as it has no future as part of Azerbaijan. The resolution of the problem cannot be against the Nagorno-Karabakh people’s will, which proceeds from the principle of peoples’ right to self-determination. Azerbaijan has no legal, historical or moral right to lay any claim on Nagorno-Karabakh,” the Armenian President said.