By Mariam Levina

The use of force cannot remove the Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) conflict from the international agenda. This was stated by Armenian foreign ministry spokesman Vahan Hunanyan, commenting—at the request of Armenian NEWS.am—on the statement by Azerbaijani presidential aide Hikmet Hajiyev.

Hajiyev had noted Friday that "the Karabakh conflict is over and is a thing of the past, and for Azerbaijan. Karabakh is no longer a matter of foreign policy, but a topic of domestic agenda."

"The Karabakh conflict is not settled. Not only can the use of force not resolve, but it cannot remove the Karabakh conflict from the international agenda.

Armenia has repeatedly stated its principled position on the Karabakh issue, which [i.e., Armenia’s position] coincides with the position of the international community. Only through the mandate of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, the peace talks is it possible to reach the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict’s comprehensive and lasting settlement—on the basis of principles and elements known to the parties, including the inalienable right of peoples to self-determination," Vahan Hunanyan said.