YEREVAN, JUNE 20, ARMENPRESS. The draft document in 1999 envisaging Armenia’s surrender of Meghri in exchange of control over Nagorno Karabakh, despite not being adopted, recorded the “demise of the fundamental notions” of the Armenian side regarding the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said.

Pashinyan told lawmakers on June 20 at the select committee probing the 2020 war that the document on exchanging territories was circulated during the 1999 Istanbul Summit. The document was far from territorial integrity and the right to self determination, Pashinyan said.

On one hand it had nothing to do with self-determination, and on the other hand it would’ve violated the principle of territorial integrity of both Armenia and Azerbaijan. Pashinyan quoted the draft document as mentioning the exchange of Meghri with Nagorno Karabakh.

“This document actually records the demise of the Armenian fundamental notions on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict resolution. Moreover, there is an opinion, and I share this opinion, that Karen Demirchyan and Vazgen Sargsyan prevented the implementation of this document with their lives,” Pashinyan said, highlighting the fact that all the developments took place in between August and November of 1999.

Pashinyan added that although the document was never signed, such draft documents are developed through discussions, debates and conversations between the parties.