If in the next 1-2 days we do not feel Azerbaijan's readiness to resolve the issue peacefully, I will petition to Armenia’s authorities to recognize Artsakh's independence. Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) President Arayik Haroutyunyan stated this at Sunday morning’s press conference.

"I will also petition to international organizations and all countries of the world. Here we will see the list of countries that respect human rights, international law; the right of nations to self-determination. The world will see the list of countries that support terrorism," the Artsakh President said.

According to Haroutyunyan, the states that support Azerbaijan support international terrorism. "Those countries must be listed, and the people of those countries must realize the behavior of their authorities; those authorities must be accountable before humanity and God. How will the formed coalition, terrorists of Turkey and Azerbaijan be, to what extent they will respect Russia's mediation, to what extent they will respect the statements of international organizations and go to a ceasefire—first of all to humanitarian and then to negotiations. If it does not happen, then it is a proof that there is not a Karabakh-Azerbaijani struggle, but much more serious problems or plans threatening humanity are hidden in this region.”

Referring to Azerbaijan’s shelling of Artsakh’s capital Stepanakert, Haroutyunyan recalled that the adversary uses the Smerch, Polonez, and Kasirga strike drones against the population of Artsakh. "There is no area in Stepanakert under the name of infrastructure or military facilities where missile shells have not exploded. Not to mention [the St.] Ghazanchetsots [Church of Shushi], which has no military facilities in the vicinity, but it was shelled. Azerbaijan is conducting a process of extermination of the civilian population [of Artsakh]."

The President stressed, however, that Artsakh will not be part of Azerbaijan. "And after all this, they expect Artsakh to agree to their demands? It will not happen. Artsakh is exercising its right to self-defense, within the framework of which we will also exercise it with the direct participation of Armenia and the Armenians. The right of the people of Artsakh to live on their own land is internationally confirmed and recognized.”