Question: Minister, would you comment on the June 18 incidents at the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, which resulted in the killings of two residents of Chinari village. 

Answer: I want to first express my most sincere condolences to the families of the victims.

Attacks against the civilian population, killings of innocent people and the recent steps of Azerbaijani side, in general, are directed towards the deterioration of the situation. I believe that all these attempts, which include the incident in the Martakert region of Nagorno Karabagh in the first days of March; persistent refusal, since April, to return four Armenian citizens; killing of an Armenian serviceman in Tavush region and now the killing of two civilian residents of Chinari village, must be strongly condemned. Such steps endanger the peace process. One wonders whether the real goal of the Azerbaijani side is to create additional obstacles to the continuation of the peace talks. The demands of a number of Azerbaijani NGOs to stop the negotiations can only be seen as an evidence of this. It is obvious from where those NGOs are directed. These steps raise serious concern and have to be denounced.      

Question: There have been statements from the Azerbaijani side about the alleged change of Armenia’s position with regard the resolution of the Nagrono Karabagh conflict. Could you clarify Armenia’s position?

Answer: Just and peaceful resolution of Nagorno Karabakh conflict remains a priority of Armenia’s foreign policy. 

The recognition and exercise of the right of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh for self-determination is in the core of the conflict.

Armenia believes that the resolution of Nagorno Karabagh conflict should be based on the following principles:

- Nagorno Karabakh cannot be under the authority of Azerbaijan;

- Nagorno Karabakh must have a permanent land link to Armenia, which should be under the jurisdiction of Armenian side.

- Security of the Nagorno Karabakh population must be guaranteed.  

Acceptance of these principles and their assertion in an agreement will allow to surmount the consequences of the conflict.

The agreement in this regard should, naturally, be approved by the Karabakh side.

Armenia remains committed to the resolution of the conflict only through peaceful means and believes that the creation of a confidence environment is essential for the continuation of negotiations in a constructive manner. The sides should refrain from steps, which might generate additional tension and create obstacles on the way of the peace process.

The militaristic propaganda and threats of a possible military solution voiced at the highest level in Azerbaijan contradict the UN Charter and the OSCE Founding Document, the 1975 Helsinki Final Act, as well as the main principles of international law.  

Any attempt of a military solution can have unpredictable consequences not only for the parties themselves but for the entire region.

Negotiations on the resolution of Nagorno Karabakh conflict are held within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group -- between the Presidents and Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan. Armenia values the mediation of Minsk Group Co-chairs as an effective framework for the process of negotiations.

While being engaged in the negotiations process within the OSCE Minsk Group, Azerbaijan, at the same time, is making attempts to transfer the resolution of Nagorno Karabakh conflict to other international fora, continues to distort the essence of the conflict, and carries on the anti-Armenian propaganda at various international organizations. This has seriously impeded the resolution of the conflict and continues to impede.