Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) is always open to reasonable proposals, but Azerbaijan's option to open the Akna (Aghdam) road is not acceptable. Artsakh Foreign Minister Sergey Ghazaryan told reporters about this today in Armenia.

"What Azerbaijan presents in the form of an ultimatum, our compatriots have expressed [their] position on it. But in this version, when the Azerbaijani side tries to impose, it is not acceptable, and you see how our compatriots reacted to a similar proposal," said Ghazaryan.

Regarding the remark that the Artsakh authorities do not seem to be against Azerbaijan's proposal, the FM replied that the Artsakh authorities’ obligation is to discuss all kinds of proposals that come both from the mediators and from the Azerbaijani side.

"But these proposals must be reasonable," he added.

Commenting on Azerbaijani presidential assistant Hikmet Hajiyev statement that after the opening of the road from Aghdam to Stepanakert, the Lachin road will be reopened within 24 hours, Ghazaryan responded: "Unfortunately, the Azerbaijani side, even the document of November 9[,2020], under which there is the signature of the president of Azerbaijan, it is the Azerbaijani side that violates the commitments taken. Any step during this period does not indicate that the Azerbaijani side will fulfill its obligations."

And asked whether a meeting between Artsakh and Azerbaijan possible in the near future, Sergey Ghazaryan said: "The Artsakh side is the most interested side so that we can try to find a mutually acceptable solution to even the most difficult issues peacefully, through negotiations, but the Azerbaijani side avoids it. We regularly send proposals—through Russian peacekeepers [in Artsakh]—about meetings, but the Azerbaijani side simply does not respond."