YEREVAN, JANUARY 17, ARMENPRESS: After the meeting of the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan in Vienna in November 2013, a new stage for the Nagorno Karabakh conflict regulation was announced. The sides expressed readiness to make the meetings more often and continue the talks. The meeting of the foreign ministers of the two countries in Paris is considered to be held in January. Before that meeting the Foreign Minister of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic Karen Mirzoyan gave an exclusive interview to Armenpress, in which he presented the official position of Artsakh on the issue.

- Mr. Mirzoyan, in the end of 2013 the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs paid another visit to the region and met with the President Bako Sahakyan and You in Stepanakert. Could You please tell in details what was the talk about and what are the expectations from the Co-chairs’ activity?

- We have already provided enough information about the meeting of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs with President Sahakyan during their last regional visit. As always different issues related to the Azerbaijan-Karabakh conflict regulation and other regional processes were on the agenda. We drew their attention to the expressions of Azerbaijan’s aggressive and destructive policy and the necessity to exclude them, as well as stated that the full-pledged participation of the official Stepanakert in all the stages of the negotiations process should be restored.

- In what stage are the negotiations regarding the Karabakh conflict regulation at present and do they satisfy Karabakh and the NKR people?

- Certainly, the situation that we have now in the negotiations process cannot satisfy the Nagorno Karabakh Republic and its people. Artsakh is interested in the regulation of the conflict and the establishment of long-term peace and stability in the region, which, in its turn, will enable expanding and giving a new impetus to the ongoing state-building processes in our country.

- What expectations do You have from 2014 in the conflict regulation process, taking into account the January meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia, as well as the meeting of the Presidents of the two countries in the future?

- The Sargsyan-Aliyev meeting, held in the end of 2013, emerged some hopes in sense of the activation of the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict regulation process and the establishment of peace and stability in the region. Though much depends on the fact if Azerbaijan wants to change its destructive policy or not. Unfortunately, the last statements of the Azerbaijani president are not inspiring and prove that the authorities of that country are not ready to give up their illusions and have positive contribution to the negotiations process by assessing the situation realistically.

- In what stage is the international recognition of Artsakh? What steps does the state make and how urgent the issue is at present?

- The international recognition of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic is one of the key priorities of our political agenda. It is the integral part of the foreign political course of President Bako Sahakyan, and we implement consistent work in that direction. Its noteworthy that especially in the last period there are positive trends expressed by the legislative bodies of different countries on the adoption of resolutions and statements supporting the Karabakh people's right to self-determination. I am certain that this process will have its logical continuation and will gain new impetus this year as well. Today Artsakh proved to the world that it is an established state and can lead a responsible and active foreign policy. The way, Artsakh moves today, is accepted and adequately appreciated in the outside world.

- The Nagorno Karabakh Republic cooperates with other unrecognized republics. What cooperation can be considered the most productive?

- We are in business relations with Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Transnistria. Regularly we pay bilateral visits and hold different level meetings. In particular, the last such contact was held last year, during the festive ceremony devoted to the 20th anniversary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Abkhazia. We consider these ties to be quite important not only for that they enable us to get more information about the processes that take place in these republics, but also for the fact that they give us the opportunity to exchange some ideas on the ways and forms of possible cooperation.

- Many people criticize the Madrid principles, stating that the document includes points, which do not reflect the interests of Armenia and Karabakh. Do You agree with that and which points would You outline?

- Speaking about the Madrid principles, it is necessary to take into account that any development of principles is the result of negotiations. As I have already mentioned, without the full-pledged participation of the Artsakh side in all the stages of the negotiations, it will be difficult to expect any viable decisions.

- And the last question. How do You envisage the issue’s settlement?

- For the final resolution of the conflict, it is necessary to concentrate all the efforts on the development of the corresponding mechanisms and conditions for the peaceful existence of the two independent states – the Nagorno Karabakh Republic and Azerbaijan – formed in the result of the collapse of the USSR and the war imposed on Artsakh by the rival. We have always stated that the independence and security of Artsakh are the highest values for our people and are not subject to bargaining. (THE FULL VERSION OF THE INTERVIEW IS AVAILABLE IN ARMENIAN)

Interview by Hasmik Harutyunyan