Deputy Foreign Minister: In order to see any results Azerbaijan should run direct negotiations with Stepanakert

YEREVAN, MAY 5, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Shavarsh Kocharyan says Bishkek protocol on ceasefire signed on May 5, 1994 is a litmus paper and clearly shows that if Azerbaijan wants to see any results, it must start direct negotiations with Stepanakert, “Armenpress” reports, Deputy Foreign Minister said this to journalists.

“Bishkek protocol was very important since it formed the basis for signing the ceasefire agreement. Bishkek document was not created unexpectedly. Since September, 1993 Baku started direct negotiations with Stepanakert and numerous meetings were hold. It was that time that Heydar Aliyev authorized with his signature Deputy Parliament Speaker of Azerbaijan to run negotiations with NKR representative for organizing a high-level meeting. NKR Foreign Minister Arkadi Ghukasyan received similar authorization that time and, the meeting was held between the letter and Jalilov in Moscow. This resulted in the establishment of short-term ceasefire and the meeting between the Presidents of two states Robert Kocharyan and Heydar Aliyev. This was followed by a number of meetings and it created a baseline for Bishkek protocol”, Kocharyan said adding Ghukasyan-Jalilov meeting was not private it was pubic and they made statement for the media.

Kocharyan says Azerbaijan today resists against NKR’s full participation in the negotiations which means that it continues its policy using the negotiation process for its destructive measures. 1994 and 1995 ceasefire agreements are the international obligations of Azerbaijan.

A protocol was signed in Bishkek on May 5, 1994 with the mediation of Russia, Kyrgyzstan and CIS Inter-Parliamentary Assembly by which ceasefire agreements was reached.