NEW YORK. - Peaceful settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is a question of uttermost priority for Armenian state and all Armenian people, said President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan at the solemn reception organized by Armenian Embassy in the U.S., permanent mission of Armenian to the UN and Armenian-American organizations.

According to the President, Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) has been independent for 20 years and cannot acquire a lower status in the course of settlement process.

“The independence of Karabakh, realizations of people’s self determination right can never be questioned. We continue negotiations with Azerbaijan under mediation of OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs. I would not say that the talks are futile, however, meeting in Kazan proved that Azerbaijani side does not stand out with particular constructiveness.

Groundless, unilateral concessions are out of question, which we have recurrently stressed. We were and remain convinced that for the settlement process will be fruitful, we need confidence building steps and actions between the conflict parties,” said the President.