YEREVAN. – The National Assembly (NA) of Armenia will not resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) conflict, but it will contribute to the conflict’s pro-Armenian resolution in a parliamentary platform. 

NA Vice President Eduard Sharmazanov told the aforesaid to Armenian News-NEWS.am, reflecting on the new Armenian parliament’s role in the settlement of the Karabakh conflict. 

“The President [of Armenia] will negotiate with the [OSCE] Minsk Group until 2018, and then the head of the executive [branch of power; i.e. the PM],” said the NA deputy speaker. “As for the parliament’s role, parliamentary diplomacy certainly should be conducted within the framework of the powers that are given under the Constitution and with the NA regulation.”

And in response to the remark that, ultimately, the final voting on the settlement of this conflict will take place in Parliament, Sharmazanov said: “I believe it’s too early to talk about this, given the destructive policy of Azerbaijan. The reality today is that Azerbaijan is not ready for constructive talks.

“I’m not optimistic that I will see the final solution of the Artsakh problem in a foreseeable future. But no one, including the Republic of Armenia, has the right to resolve this problem without the will of the people of Artsakh. The core of the matter is that the expression of will by the people of Artsakh be mandatory.”