- Mr. Kocharyan, how would you comment on the statements of Deputy Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan regarding the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement process?

- The settlement of any conflict should indeed be based on the principles of international law and, first of all, the UN Charter. It is worth reminding the Deputy Foreign Minister that according to the UN charter the territorial integrity of state cannot be opposed to the right of people to self-determination.

With regards the UN Security Council resolutions adopted back in 1993, it was Azerbaijan that derailed the implementation of those resolutions, which demanded first and foremost the cessation of military actions. The existence of territories of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, that have come under the control of Azerbaijan, and of territories of Azerbaijan, that have come under the control of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, is one of the consequences of Azerbaijan’s aggression against the self-determined Nagorno-Karabakh and non-implementation by Azerbaijan itself of the 1993 UN Security Council resolutions.

Apparently, the Deputy Foreign Minister has forgotten that only people of Nagorno-Karabakh should participate in the legally binding referendum on the final status of Nagorno-Karabakh. And any reference to the Constitution of Azerbaijan on this matter is irrelevant, as the Constitution was adopted after the signing of trilateral agreement on armistice between Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia. Thus Azerbaijan has recognized Nagorno-Karabakh at least as a party to the conflict. Moreover, no state is entitled to oppose its domestic legislation, including the Constitution, to its international commitments, especially those assumed under the UN Charter.

In conclusion, one can only sympathise with Mr. Azimov, who does not conceal his disappointment that in case of the Minsk Group Co-chairs Azerbaijan’s “caviar diplomacy” has failed and the Minsk Group Co-Chair countries do not serve the interests of Azerbaijan.