“Self-deception” – Speaker reacts to Azerbaijan rejecting extra guarantees for Armenians in Nagorno Karabakh

YEREVAN, JUNE 26, ARMENPRESS. The issue of the rights and security of Armenians in Nagorno Karabakh is important because the matter cannot simply be forgotten, otherwise the issue won’t be resolved, Speaker of Parliament Alen Simonyan said on Monday in response to Azerbaijan rejecting extra guarantees for the Armenians in Nagorno Karabakh.

“I think this statement is damaging the Azerbaijani side itself. The issue won’t be resolved in case of such realities. This is an escape from reality, they don’t want these issues to be discussed. I am sure that they will come to this at some phase. Even now, I think this is being done for placing a high scale before the negotiations and using it during the talks. This is my impression,” Simonyan said.

Asked to clarify whether or not he believes Azerbaijan would eventually agree to launch an international mechanism for its direct dialogue with Nagorno Karabakh, Simonyan said: “The issue of the rights and security of Armenians living in Nagorno Karabakh is important because this issue cannot simply be forgotten. This is self deception. If Azerbaijan is ready to engage in self-deception, Armenia is not. We will adhere to what we have announced.”