YEREVAN. - There is no issue of fear, we aren’t afraid of anything, Armenian FM Edward Nalbandian told journalists in Yerevan’s Victory Park Monday, referring to the recognition of Karabakh by Armenia.

In his words, the thing is that according to the governmental formulation on the initiative of two Armenian MPs to recognize Karabakh independence, this will depend on the talks between Armenia and Karabakh and also the developments on the international platform.

“We must consider that these are very delicate issues, which aren’t decided by such sudden and emotional steps,”he said.

Asked whether the Armenian authorities are afraid to recognize Karabakh, Nalbandian said: “There is no issue of fear; we aren’t afraid of anything. This also shows that the international community shares our opinion and that our stance is in line with the position of the international community.  The five statements of the presidents of [the OSCE Minsk Group] co-chairing states are indicative of this. You know that so far Azerbaijan has avoided referring to those five statements, while the latter present the international community’s position on the Karabakh conflict settlement. I’d also like to recall that the U.S., France and Russia precisely mentioned that the self-determination of Karabakh is also a key issue, always being in the center of the talks. And as a result of those talks everything should certainly be done to ensure both the recognition and implementation of the Nagorno-Karabakh people’s right to self-determination.”

Referring to the current stage of the talks and the three conditions advanced by Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan (introduction of investigative mechanisms, targeted announcements and guarantees that Azerbaijan won’t repeat new aggression and terrorism against Karabakh people), the FM said: “This stage can include meetings and discussions on ways to prevent the recurrence of what Azerbaijan unleashed against Artsakh in early April. Secondly, mechanisms can in introduced, which would allow to resume the talks”.