YEREVAN. –The lack of progress in the Karabakh conflict settlement process is due to the uncompromising and maximalist stance of Azerbaijan at the negotiation table, Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian said in an interview with Greek newspaper Etnos.

Asked, what are the biggest obstacles in the settlement process, the Armenian Foreign Minister said: “Last week in my statement at the OSCE Ministerial Council I made a detailed enumeration of nine reasons why till now it has not been possible to advance the peace process despite numerous meetings on the presidential and ministerial levels, many rounds of negotiations, the tireless mediation efforts by the Co-Chair countries - Russia, France and the USA, and the strong endorsement of the OSCE and all others who have supported the efforts and approaches of the Co-Chairs.”

“In brief, the lack of progress in the settlement process is due to the uncompromising and maximalist stance of Azerbaijan at the negotiation table, its failure to implement what has been emphasised and agreed upon during the last three summits of the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan held in Vienna, St Petersburg, Geneva, particularly on the exclusively peaceful settlement of the conflict, full adherence to the 1994-1995 trilateral ceasefire agreements, which do not have time limitations, creation of mechanism for the investigation of ceasefire violations, expansion of the team of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office. Azerbaijan made a step back and refused to reaffirm its commitment to the principles and elements proposed by the Co-Chairs of the Minsk group as a basis for the settlement,” Nalbandian noted.

According to him, Baku has backtracked from many other agreements and this pattern seriously questions Azerbaijan’s credibility as a negotiating party.

“Meantime, Baku continues the ceasefire violations and provocations on the line of contact. In April 2016 Azerbaijan unleashed an aggression against Nagorno-Karabakh that was accompanied by the grave violations of international humanitarian law, atrocities against the civilian population, including children, women and elderly persons, mutilation of the bodies, DAESH-style beheadings.

"What has been proposed by the Co-Chairs and supported by Armenia has been rejected by Azerbaijan and this is the main reason that hinders the advancement of the peace process.

"I would like to once again reiterate Armenia’s firm commitment to the exclusively peaceful settlement of the conflict based on the proposals of the Co-Chairs. There is no alternative to the negotiation process.

"If Baku abides to the calls of the Co-Chairs to strictly respect the ceasefire, implements previously reached agreements, reiterates its adherence to the principles of the conflict resolution proposed by the Co-Chairs and constructively engages in the negotiations that will pave the way to move the peace process forward,” the FM summed up.