The Azerbaijani President’s latest statement does not mean that his country refuses OSCE Minsk Group format, Head of the Center for Globalization and Regional Cooperation Stepan Grigoryan told Armenian News-NEWS.am.

According to him Ilham Aliyev’s statement is an expression of discontent with the negotiation process on Karabakh dispute. These statements aim at exerting pressure on Minsk Group mediators rather than on Armenia, he underscored.

“Those formats of the conflict resolution with Russia are undesirable for Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan does not hide it, though the negotiations are held in the format of Armenia-Russia-Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan would like Turkey, U.S., European Union to be involved in the format of the conflict resolution,” he said.

The political scientist stressed today the OSCE Minsk Group is the best format for Armenia, Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan. The group includes several co-chairs, who have both common and different stances that enables the negotiating parties to maneuver.

The change of format, in which one country will dominate, will be dangerous to all parties, not only for Armenia, but also for Azerbaijan. The Co-Chairs do not yield to pressure easily, but it has its effect, Grigoryan emphasized.

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 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.