The fate of Artsakh cannot be determined without its direct participation in all phases of the negotiation process.

The Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh Republic/NKR) President, Bako Sahakyan, on Monday stated the aforementioned at the consultation devoted to the introduction of the main provisions of the NKR President’s 2017-2020 program.

Reflecting on the avenues for resolving the Karabakh conflict and on the foreign policy of the Republic of Artsakh, Sahakyan also noted as follows, in particular:

“Independence and security are inviolable values to us, (…) [and] further development and strengthening of the Republic of Artsakh is a key issue.

“Stepanakert is committed to the conflict’s pacific settlement within the framework of the OSCE [Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe] Minsk Group.

“We will continue to show a principled position toward re-establishment of the full format of the negotiation process.

“It will be necessary to give a new quality to the [process] of recognition of our republic.

“From the beginning, we have succeeded in building [our] foreign policy in accordance with the precepts of balance and diversity.

“Such a policy is conditioned also by the presence of the Armenian diaspora, and, with our steps, we shall only contribute to the strengthening of that potential.”