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A generation grew up in the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, that has been living with idea they are an independent state, adopt decisions by their own and there could be no process to convince them otherwise, Armenian Defense Minister Vigen Sargsyan told a press conference attended by representatives Russian media outlets. 

“The Nagorno Karabakh conflict is a typical example of self-determination of people. The people that was forced to protect that right with arms in an imposed war and later established an efficient state administration system, democratic system, where elections are conducted, a parliament is formed, and a president is elected with a judicial system and own logic of economic development. The Nagorno Karabakh people have realized all the mechanisms necessary for the recognition of a statehood in the course of the past 24 years since the establishment of the ceasefire regime,” the minister explained.

Expanding on the NK settlement process, Minister Sargsyan underlined the Armenian side is open to conduct negotiations and highlighted the process of finding ways to solve the conflict is directly linked to the respect to the right of people for self-determination.

“All the remaining issues in this context should be solved considering the need of the Nagorno Karabakh people security and the right for free development,” stressed the minister, adding, regretfully, attempts of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs are disrupted by Azerbaijan which, apparently, is not keen on resolving the conflict.

“Azerbaijan delays the NK conflict settlement through increasing armament and disseminating anti-Armenian hate rhetoric at all levels, starting from the head of the state to higher education institutions and schools. In that atmosphere of hatred, it will realistically be impossible to prepare the society for making compromises in the NK issue,” Sargsyan said, pointing out explicit differences in the state administration systems of Azerbaijan and the Nagorno Karabakh Republic.

“We will not give up our efforts toward establishing peace, yet we should stay ready for any escalation of the situation, since, unfortunately,  in my assessment, Azerbaijan completely lacks civil and democratic control over the armed forces, that puts the risk of military actions at 0 to 100 per cent in the NK zone, since respective decisions are in no way restricted or conditioned with any mechanisms,” Sargsyan said, adding:  “We hope Baku realizes that any escalation will result in a large-scale war to bring an all-round chaos, yet will not solve the Karabakh conflict, since it has no military solution.”