As long as uncertainty over Artsakh’s status exists, no other issue can be solved: Serzh Sargsyan
Azerbaijan continues to claim that will dictate its will to us by the use of force and violence, President of Armenia, leader of the RPA Serzh Sargsyan recalled in his speech at the 16th convention of the party that Azerbaijan unleashed a largescale aggression against Artsakh in April committing war crimes against civilians and war prisoners. According to the President, the Azerbaijani aggression was a huge blow to the negotiation process.
“Now the settlement efforts are divided into pre and post April phases. Our position remains the same. Armenia and Artsakh have no reason to wage a war. This is the key difference between our and Azerbaijani approaches. I am convinced Artsakh’s issue can be solved only through peaceful talks. In order to succeed in the negotiations, it is necessary that the sides negotiate reasonably, but it is also very important that the parties clearly and realistically assess the current balance of powers,” Sargsyan said.
According to the President of the Republic, the April war came to prove that there are some problems in Azerbaijan in terms of making realistic assessments. It is evidenced by their rhetoric.
“The fact is that our army, being the defending side, solved the tasks put in front of it. Azerbaijan, launching a sudden attack, was unable to reach its military-political goals. Our position is unchanged. Nagorno Karabakh conflict can be settled only by the free self-determination of the people of Artsakh. All the other issues are secondary and will find their logical and fair solution parallel to the settlement of the conflict. As long as the main problem exists, as long as uncertainty exists over Artsakh’s status, no other issue can be solved”, the President stated.
President Sargsyan stressed that Armenia clearly assesses the balance of powers in the region and Armenia pursues no political-military goal of conquering Baku or capitulating it.
“But we also assess well enough the irreversible damage we can inflict on the adversary. I think there is no need to go deeper. We will not engage in arms race, we see no sense in that” Serzh Sargsyan said, adding that Armenia’s resources, both human and material, are enough to solve the tasks.
