SERZH SARGSYAN: “KARABAKH CONFLICT CAN BE SOLVED IF…”

Serzh Sargsyan gave an interview to Public TV “H1”
Mr. Sargsyan today the Karabakh conflict is first and foremost issue discussed in different circles. It seems Armenia is ready to unilateral concessions. Will you assert this prevalent belief?
Surely, not. Simply, some political forces and figures still think that the elections haven't ended and they sieze every opportunity for idle speculations. They read Turkish and Azeti press, make forecasts and deductions and never care about the official stand of Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh. Neither do they take the refutations of Azeri press for granted.
I officially reject the rumours that Armenia goes for unilateral concessions. I have always stated and I want to repeat that the Nagorno Karabakh conflict can solely be solved if Azerbaijan accepts the right of the people of Artsakh to self-determination, if Armenia and Karabakh have a shared border and if the population of Nagorno Karabakh gets powerful security guarantees. Over the past 17-18 years I have never used the expression “unilateral concession”.
Again and again I say that we shall solve the issue through speeches, meetings, negotiations and by applying different methods. On the way to the conflict resolution we must be frank with our military partners and our people. We must never sound dubious and try to delude our people. This is the harsh reality.
Mr. Sargsyan the recent Maindorf Declaration signed by the President of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia, received sharp criticism. What is your opinion about this? I must say that the Maindorf Declaration is actually the only document where Azerbaijan accepted the political way of solution of the Karabakh issue. I would like to note that the conflict should be solved on the basis of a fundamental international document.
- Anyway, when will the conflict be finally solved in your opinion?
The settlement of the Karabakh issue still has a long way to pass. We should try to arrive at a decision deriving from the interests of our people. After that the issue should be put on public discussion. Then we will need to sign a treaty, then an agreement, etc. When I repeatedly state that we will not protract the solution of the issue, it does not mean the question will be solved tomorrow, in a month or in four months.”
We should not artificially delay the solution of the issue, but we still need to arrive at an agreement, which will be followed by a long process. This is not an issue to be solved by one, two, 131 or even 1 300 people. This is one of the vital issues concerning our people, and they should say whether they agree to the way of solution or not.
The negotiating sides should keep people informed of the settlement principles but they shouldn't detail the whole negotiation process as negotiations are rather complicated and delicate processes, and one should be cautious and prudent in that process.
Our political forces will undoubtedly be involved in the discussions though I think it is still too early to put the question under consideration. Yet, to somehow ease the situation, I will invite the leaders of Armenian political parties to share their thoughts and concerns.

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