Mr Mirzoyan, how successful do you consider the efforts of the Armenian side towards informing the international community on its position?

Great work has been done both here, in Artsakh, and in Armenia. However, despite this, it should be said that there is still a need for more and more work to be done. All the possibilities of the information field should be used. We should be proactive, and let’s not be afraid of this word, aggressive.

Considering the signals from Russia and the processes in the region, some experts think that Turkey will try to somehow get involved in the talks with the help of Russia. Do you think such a change in the negotiation format or any change at all is possible?

Currently, the only format of Turkey’s engagement in the talks is [restricted to] its participation in the work of the OSCE Minsk Group. The decision on this was adopted back in the initial period of the Minsk process. Turkey continues to remain a Minsk Group member, but I see no serious prospects for Turkey to actively join the settlement process.

Following the April developments, the talks on the possible territorial concessions by the Armenian side dramatically increased. What do you think is the reason behind the ‘activation’ of such talks?

This question should be addressed to those who disseminate such information. In Artsakh we don’t put such an issue for discussion and consideration. Our main task today is to ensure the regular activity of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and contribute to the peaceful settlement of the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict. We have no other tasks. 

Are there discrepancies between the positions of the Armenian and Artsakh authorities regarding the conflict settlement?  

I see no discrepancies. Of course, considering that we are different states, there might be certain differences [between us] - not in opinions but in the way of their expression. Both Armenian states act for a common purpose.

What prospects do you see for NKR’s re-joining the negotiation process?

Karabakh will have to return to the negotiations sooner or later, since its long absence is one of the reasons of the unhealthy atmosphere in the negotiation process. I am sure that the representatives of the international community also realize this well. The only obstacle to this is Azerbaijan, which understands that the fully-fledged return of Karabakh to the negotiation table will force it to make serious steps towards the peaceful settlement.  

In Vienna the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs stated that they had agreed to introduce incident investigation mechanisms on the Line of Contact and expand the office of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office. What has been done to this end so far and how can these mechanisms be useful?

The Artsakh side has repeatedly come up with such proposals.  We are convinced that the fully-fledged implementation of these measures will allow to finally reduce the tension on the Line of Contact [between Karabakh and Azerbaijan], as well as on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. This can create an atmosphere needed for looking for peaceful settlement. Unfortunately, despite the formal agreement of Azerbaijan, both of these initiatives are scarcely implemented. Let’s hope that the international community will prove to be consistent, since the important thing here is the international position and the approach. Its role and responsibility is great here. They should be consistent in introducing the mechanisms which they themselves announced about.