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Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia gave an interview to the Austrian «Die Presse» daily. The interview is also available on the official website of the Ministry http://mfa.am/en/interviews/item/2016/05/11/kocharyan_diepresse/.

Question: Are you ready for negotiations with Azerbaijan?
Sh. Kocharyan: For continuation of negotiations by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs’ mediation, it is necessary to consolidate the cease-fire regime. It is impossible to negotiate when shooting is continuing.

Question: Theoretically the cease-fire is in force. Why is not it observed?
Sh. Kocharyan: The cease-fire was established in 1994 by the trilateral (Nagorno-Karabakh, Armenia and Azerbaijan) cease-fire agreement signed. Despite regular violations, it is in force up to date. On April 2, Azerbaijan breached the agreement, unleashing military actions. The 1994 agreement was restored under an oral arrangement of April 5. Azerbaijan tries to undermine the Minsk process. It is now important to consolidate the cease-fire. Our servicemen were killed also after April 5.
Question: The same is on the other side, as is informed from Baku.
Sh. Kocharyan: I cannot exclude that, as the Nagorno-Karabakh Army is forced to respond to the firing.

Question: Why did this happen over this very period of time?
Sh. Kocharyan: This question should be addressed to Baku. There might be different reasons. It is Baku’s policy to resolve this issue through use of force. Obviously, they had an illusion of carrying out a blitzkrieg. They failed. There is a huge discontent in the country, concerning the corrupt regime. War may distract attention.

Question: What if this was a test? In general, are Armenia and Karabakh able to protect their citizens?
Sh. Kocharyan: The war is a threat to all of us, both to Armenians and Azerbaijanis. They revealed that they do not follow those arrangements. When it comes to military equipment, I should mention, that yes, Baku is a “leading champion” in arming. But this did not help in carrying out a pre-planned blitzkrieg.

Question: What is the way out of this dangerous situation?
Sh. Kocharyan: International mediators should openly condemn Baku’s offensives; one should no longer turn a blind eye to this. All the time Baku demands withdrawal from “occupied” territories, however, withholds the fact that there are regions of Nagorno-Karabakh that are under the Azerbaijani control. Madrid principles read about self-determination of Nagorno-Karabakh and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, and there is a possibility for compromise here.

Question: Are you ready for that?
Sh. Kocharyan: There will not be any one-sided concession. One should realize that there are issues which are beyond Armenia’s jurisdiction. Yerevan cannot say we are ready to return territories, when it concerns Nagorno-Karabakh. Yerevan cannot make a decision on the status of Nagorno-Karabakh. They |Nagorno-Karabakh| are the ones to decide. We do not recognize Nagorno-Karabakh in order to preserve the negotiation process.

Question: Discussions over recognition by Armenia are currently underway.
Sh. Kocharyan: President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan stated that once Azerbaijan launches a large-scale aggression, this would lead to the recognition of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic by Armenia.

Question: Russia has started new mediation initiative. Is Moscow truly your ally?
Sh. Kocharyan: Russia is a mediator in the conflict, it has to maintain balance. According to the agreements, Moscow has obligations towards Armenia. However, Russia has very close economic ties with Azerbaijan. It is our ally, but also pursues its own interests in Azerbaijan. In the South Caucasus, within its zone of interests, Russia will always be inclined to maintain a balance.

Question: Sharp criticism is heard in the Armenian society on Russia’s role. The key issue is the sales of armaments to both sides.
Sh. Kocharyan: The Armenian side continuously raises that issue, including on the level of our President. We understand what is going on, and we have all the reasons to be displeased. Russia says, that if it does not sale arms, others will do. I am an advocate for full embargo on arms for all the conflicting parties in the region. Three Co-Chair countries – USA, Russia and France – are able to achieve that in the United Nations Security Council. That would have been correct.

Question: But this would also concern you.
Sh. Kocharyan: Naturally. This depends only on the Co-Chairs authority.