Enclave status for Nagorno Karabakh shouldn’t even be touched upon: RA President’s Spokesman
In an interview to Russian “Rossiya Segodnya” agency Serzh Sargsyan stated, that years ago Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh were ready to concede 7 regions to Azerbaijan instead of referendum resolving NK status, there was even a document with such a content, however, Ilham Aliyev refused to sign it. Moreover, touching upon return of seven regions to Azerbaijan, Serzh Sargsyan didn’t say anything about the land corridor joining Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh.
“Azatutyun” Radio sent an inquiry to the President’s Office: when was decision made to concede seven regions belonging to former Nagorno Karabakh Autonomous Oblast to Azerbaijan, being deprived of land connection with Armenia, and isn’t that perspective observed as a threat by the President of Armenia?
“In his interview the President of the Republic didn’t touch upon all provisions proposed by OSCE MG co-chairs for package settlement, which as the co-chairs stressed, comprise one inseparable integrity. The President stressed that the right of NK self-determination is enshrined by the first point of that proposal. All other elements, as the president stated in his speech at the 16th RPA summit, are “derivatives.” All other issues will find their logical and fair solution, parallel to the issue settlement. As long as this main issue exists, and Artsakh’s status is indefinite, no other solution can be found,” the President said,” the reply by Armenian president’s spokesman addressed to “Azatutyun” read.
Vladimir Hakobyan added, “The issue of return of any territory may be object only in case of resolution of NK’s status. The settlement package enshrines the necessity of land connection between Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh. Any enclave status can’t even be touched upon. It doesn’t refer to land road connecting Armenia to NK only, but wide, safe and interrupted land connection, which will be fully insured from any encroachment. Particularly, after the April war, current status of adjacent territories, considered as a security zone is more than justified on account of continuous and immediate threat to the people of Nagorno Karabakh.”
