Armenian Foreign Ministry suggesting its own scenario of Karabakh conflict settlement

 Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Shavarsh Kocharyan has said in an interview with the Public Radio of Armenia that the Armenian side is suggesting its own scenario of the Karabakh conflict's settlement. 

"We are suggesting a different scenario - recognition of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic by Azerbaijan, return of the territories occupied and controlled by Azerbaijan to Karabakh - I am speaking about part of Martuni and Martakert regions and Shahumyan region. Afterwards, they can talk to the Nagorno Karabakh Republic over determination of the borders," Kocharyan said. 

The deputy minister said the status of Nagorno Karabakh must not be left uncertain, as the Azerbaijani side may disclaim its commitments at any moment. Shavarsh Kocharyan said the Armenian side has always advocated for the package settlement scheme, while Azerbaijan has always called for the stage-by-stage settlement scheme i.e. transfer of the territories to it and then discussion of the other issues.

The deputy minister recalled that all the documents that have been suggested by the mediators were based on a package settlement scheme that implies rapprochement of the stances of the sides through concessions, but Azerbaijan that formally supported the package settlement has focused on the points favorable for it, distorting the process and striving for a stage-by-stage settlement.

Shavarsh Kocharyan said Azerbaijan's recent aggression against NKR, the ISIS-style atrocities and vicious war crimes committed by the Azerbaijani army showed that everything behind the settlement schemes needs to be reconsidered. 

"This situation showed that Azerbaijan has not abandoned its power politics and Armenophobia," the deputy minister said. He recalled that in 1994 two agreements were signed. One of the agreements provided for cessation of hostilities and establishment of the ceasefire regime, while the second says that the provision on the ceasefire will be valid until a big peace treaty is signed. In addition, Kocharyan said, another agreement was signed in 1995 to strengthen the ceasefire regime. 

"Actually, Azerbaijan does not observe its international commitments under the given agreements, which may repeat in the future too. We must grasp the fact that we are dealing with a subject that may disclaim its commitments at any moment. We cannot go ahead without taking this circumstance into account. The status of Karabakh cannot remain uncertain," Shavarsh Kocharyan said. Azerbaijan has always strived to "get rid of" the above documents. 

"There are three international documents which the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) signed as a subject. This means that Azerbaijan recognized the NKR at least as a side to the conflict. Now, the existence of those documents is a problem for Baku. The refusal from them is a life-or-death issue. But all such attempts are absurd," he said. In particular, he said, Baku is even trying to replace the agreements of 1994-1995 with verbal arrangements on the ceasefire made on April 5 2016. 

The deputy foreign minister said that to return at a negotiating table, it is necessary that they at least stop shelling and the publics are prepared for peace through confidence building measures and measures to stop stirring up hatred. In addition, he said, only Nagorno-Karabakh can negotiate on the issues related to the territories. At the given stage, Kocharyan said, if Azerbaijan refuses to recognize any status of Nagorno- Karabakh, it is senseless to speak about this. 
"Concessions cannot be one-sided," Shavarsh Kocharyan said.