YEREVAN, APRIL 27, ARMENPRESS. Armenia has always supported peaceful settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict through negotiations, and Azerbaijan makes empty efforts to present Armenia as a side declining the negotiation process, Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandian told at the National Assembly. “Armenia has always supported peaceful settlement of the conflict and negotiations. Armenia has never refused to participate in different-level meetings. If there were wrecked meetings, Azerbaijan is responsible for that. The last case happened in Washington, where Azerbaijanis refused to meet even with the Co-chairs”, “Armenpress” reports Nalbandian mentioning.  

He mentioned that the prospects for further negotiations depend on to what extent it will be possible to prevent Azerbaijan from resuming large-scale military operations against the people of Artsakh. He stated that the efforts of the international community, the Co-chair countries and Armenia are aimed at excluding the reoccurrence of the incidents of early April. “Sergey Lavrov told the same during his visit to Yerevan.  The talks that he had brought some documents and some negotiations were held were mere rumors. If there are no proper conditions, there can be no talks of negotiations”, the Minister clarified.

Edward Nalbandian also mentioned that Azerbaijan made an attempt to cast doubt on the trilateral ceasefire agreement signed in 1994. “Such attempts were made in diplomatic arenas in Vienna and New York. And the Co-chairs adequately responded. They told what we say, that the trilateral agreements on the ceasefire and its reinforcement, signed in 1994 and 1995 are valid and must be unconditionally respected. This is the opinion of the international community and the Co-chairs. Azerbaijan once again demonstrated that it is in confrontation with the international community. These were their diplomatic miscalculations”, the Minister said.

He added that Azerbaijanis pretend that they are not aware how it happened that they waged large-scale military operations against Artsakh on April 2, they are not aware of how many casualties they suffered during this period, they are not aware what is the meaning of the proposal on the creation of investigative mechanisms and they are not aware of the 5 statements of the Co-chairs on Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement.

“I believe that we can remind for those uninformed that not having information does not exempt them from responsibility. I think it is time for the international community to sober up Azerbaijan and bring back to the negotiation table, where it will be possible to go on with the talks. While our current meetings are aimed at the elimination of the consequences caused by the operations unleashed by Azerbaijan”, Nalbandian concluded.