The change of status-quo is acceptable for us, but only in case of comprehensive settlement of the conflict: Serzh Sargsyan

The change of status-quo is acceptable for us, but only in case of comprehensive settlement of the conflict, President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan said during his speech at the Parliament, commenting on some views voiced by political forces during the preelection period, which, according to him, can lead to wrong mindset.

“Firstly, attempt was made to revive the discussion of one of the oldest proposals over the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement which succeeded and it is normal. Insisting that the best document was negotiated in the past which today can be a key for the settlement means to sin against reality.

But the reality is that in December 1997 the document didn’t lead to the settlement of the issue, rather, as the title says, it aimed at ceasing the armed conflict. It ensured a kind of new ceasefire agreement, this time accompanied by peacekeeping forces and several other provisions.

The Armenian sides were receiving suspicious security guarantees and no less dubious and uncertain prospect for the conflict’s political settlement, making disproportional concessions instead,” Serzh Sargsyan said. The President said that the supporters of this proposal both before and now blame those who rejected it calling them supporters of maintenance of status-quo.

“When Baku issues falsification that we want to maintain the status-quo at any cost, perhaps this may fit within the Azerbaijani logic, but such opinion voiced from Armenia is unacceptable. The change of status-quo is acceptable for us but only in case of the comprehensive settlement of the issue,” he said.

Serzh Sargsyan recalled that Armenia repeatedly supported the settlement based on mutual concession the essence of which is the recognition and exercise of Artsakh’s right to self-determination.

“Yes, we don’t want maintenance of status-quo, and don’t want the next generation to bear the burden of the conflict settlement, and our joint efforts together with the Co-Chairing countries on the conflict settlement are directed towards this,” the President said.