YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 8, ARMENPRESS:  Committee of France of the Armenian Cause considers the year of 2015 significant both with regard to referring to the Armenian Genocide and finding ways to resolution of the Karabakh conflict. Armenian Cause Committee representative Murad Papazyan told Armenpress that they carry out a continuous work geared towards making Karabakh a negotiating party. “Karabakh should get involved in the negotiations no matter in which format and should express its view. I think France is not against it,” said Murad Papazyan.

In answer to the question whether the Armenian Cause Committee of France  has an initiative on working out a resolution on recognition of the independence of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic by France, Murad Papazyan noted: “It is a difficult question, because France is a Minsk Group Co-Chair country, and the USA and Russia search ways for peaceful settlement of the conflict. France wants to find a just solution. We always present the truth that Azerbaijan is the attacking side and extends peacebreaking activity. The eyes of France are open: they know that it is Azerbaijan that attacks, Azerbaijan hinders. But it is not easy, because there are other parties too, which are not consentaneous about the resolution.”

In his words, François Hollande wants to find a solution and play a role in the peaceful settlement of the Karabakh conflict. “We cooperate with him already for 15 years and the sympathy for Armenian Cause Committee of France is apparent,” Murad Papazyan added.

The current phase of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict began in 1988, when in response to the self-determination claims of NK population the Azeri authorities organized massacres and ethnic cleansing of the Armenian population on the entire territory of Azerbaijan, particularly in Sumgait, Baku and Kirovabad. On December 10, 1991 NK population declared the establishment of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR) by plebiscite, which fully complies with both international law norms and the letter and spirit of the USSR laws of that time.

Conflict settlement negotiations are held in the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group (Russia, USA, France). In the last decade, several options for the settlement proposed by the co-chairs were rejected by Azerbaijan. The last was "Paris Principles" in 2001 which were summed up in the Key West document.

Currently, negotiations are held on the basis of the Madrid proposals represented by co-chairs in November, 2007.

US State of California joined recently the other 4 states – Louisiana, Maine, Manchester and Rhode Island recognizing the independence of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic and the self-determination right of Nagorno Karabakh people.