I do not imagine that Armenia or any of its leaders can think or even take steps to make Artsakh part of Azerbaijan. Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) Foreign Minister David Babayan told this to a press conference Monday in Yerevan.

"As for rights and freedoms, we [i.e., Artsakh] have no future as part of Azerbaijan. (…). We are now a de facto free and sovereign country. And to think that it can be part of Azerbaijan is unacceptable.

If we are talking about a comprehensive solution, then Azerbaijan must also sign it. We understand it as a peace agreement in the Artsakh-Azerbaijan-Armenia format. If they [i.e., Azerbaijan] are not ready for that, the issue remains in the de facto phase. But it is clear that Artsakh will not be part of Azerbaijan; that chapter is closed," Babayan said.

To the question whether the talks are going the way they do not want in Stepanakert, and that Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan has already announced his demand to "lower the bar" on the Artsakh status issue, the FM recalled that there was no official statement about Artsakh becoming part of Azerbaijan.

"When they announce [such a thing]—and I believe it will not happen, as it is unacceptable for us—and it is not a solution, and such a thing cannot happen. I do not want to speak in a subordinate way, but even if the whole world declares, we will not be part of Azerbaijan. What can they do with us? Kill? Isn't it better to die with dignity than to live like a slave?" Babayan asked, adding that the Azerbaijani authorities make territorial claims to Armenia as well.