The Azerbaijani leadership’s statements are aimed to thwart the negotiation process and distort the essence of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. They are attempts to avoid responsibility for Azerbaijan’s aggression against Nagorno-Karabakh and ethnic cleansing, RA Deputy Foreign Minister Shavarsh Kocharyan stated, as he commented on Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s interview with the Mir Interstate TV and Radio Company.

Azerbaijan’s statements on its commitment to the peace process have always been false. Azerbaijan unleashed war, but later it itself had to ask for ceasefire talks – and it was with the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR).

In his interview with the Mir Interstate TV and Radio Company, Sh. Kocharyan read out a document of Sept. 3, 1993, signed by Baku. “The Azerbaijani leaders authorized Vice-Chairman of the Supreme Council A. Jalilov to negotiate for a meeting between the leader of Azerbaijan and the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. That document was signed by Chairman of the Supreme Council, Acting President of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev,” Sh. Kocharyan said.  

“After Jalilov was authorized, the necessary powers were entrusted to Arkady Ghukazyan, the then foreign minister of the Nagorno-Krabakh Republic. Jalilov and Ghukasyan held talks. They signed a bilateral communiqué that had two points. The first point provided for a 45-day ceasefire, and the second for a meeting between the leaders of Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan. The meeting was held in Moscow. President of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Robert Kocharyan and President of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev met there. That meeting resulted in the Bishkek agreement. Finally, a ceasefire agreement was reached. By signing the documents, holding talks and approving the protocol Azerbaijan actually recognized the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic,” Sh. Kocharyan said.

“If Azerbaijan’s present leaders had the wisdom of the person that handed power over to the incumbent leader, the negotiations would be progressing now,” Sh. Kocharyan said.

“They should negotiate with the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic instead of disregarding the existence of this national entity and chanting the mantra that Nagorno-Karabakh will never be independent of Azerbaijan. The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic has never had anything in common with independent Azerbaijan nor will it ever be so,” Sh. Kocharyan said.

He stated Armenia’s commitment to a peace and comprehensive settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

“The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic remains committed to it as well. It is only on the basis of all international legal norms, with the cause of the Azerbaijani-Nagorno-Karabakh conflict considered, we will reach peace. Any attempts to blackmail or issue military threats are not only doomed to failure, but have also been a major impediment to progress in the peace process,” Sh. Kocharyan said.

Armenian News-NEWS.am reminds readers that in an interview with the Mir Interstate TV and Radio Company, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev stated that “’Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity must be restored.” Any progress in the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process is possible provide the Armenian side recognizes the “impossibility of Nagorno-Karabakh’s independence.”

The current round of the negotiations is focused on the upgraded Madrid Principles, which guarantee the rights of the Nagorno-Karabakh population as well as the rights of those to return there and get self-government status. The principles envisage de-occupation of all the territories of Azerbaijan, return of Azerbaijani refugees to the territories, including Nagorno-Karabakh, establishment of Armenian-Azerbaijani relations and security guarantees, Aliyev said. “Globally, these are the principles though there are nuances. If this is ensured, we can speak of a breakthrough. Otherwise, various further developments are possible in the region,” Aliyev said.

The Azeri leader also criticized the OSCE Minsk Group. Despite the mediators’ willingness to settle the conflict, their efforts have not produced any results for 19 years. “So it would be wrong to appreciate the mediators’ role without having any results,” he said.