STEPANAKERT. – Azerbaijan Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov’s statements attest to Baku not being ready for achieving progress in the talks to settle the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict.

Davit Babayan, press secretary of the President of the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh Republic/NKR), told the aforesaid to Armenian News-NEWS.am. He noted this when asked to comment on the Azerbaijani FM’s statements during his interview with Interfax.

“Mammadyarov’s statements can be assessed in no other way but another manifestation of the destructive position of Baku,” Babayan noted. “As ‘great concession,’ the Azerbaijani FM promises the security and self-governance of Nagorno-Karabakh. But, what? Are we [Artsakh] deprived of it now? Parallel to similar statements, Baku [also] continues to threaten with war.

“Azerbaijani authorities must change the rhetoric and approaches [of theirs], [and must] start direct negotiations with Stepanakert; this would be a huge step towards substantive negotiations.”

In Davit Babayan’s words, with the next step, Azerbaijan’s scenario envisages Ramil Safarov’s appointment as governor general of Karabakh. To note, Azerbaijani military officer Ramil Safarov had brutally murdered Armenian officer Gurgen Margaryan.

“At that time it will be completely set, in the sense of ‘ensuring the physical safety [of the people of Artsakh],” press secretary of the NKR President stressed. “It’s sad that Baku is unable to give up its illusions, and it continues with the same spirit. The real objectives of Azerbaijan haven’t changed.”