Nagorno Karabakh’s sovereignty must be higher, says Kocharian

“It will be possible to talk about any concessions only after reaching an agreement on two issues,” told Iravunq paper in his interview Armenia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Shavarsh Kocharian. 

“The sovereignty of Nagorno Karabakh must be higher than it is today; de facto, Nagorno Karabakh is an independent state; however, it isn’t acknowledged by the international community, and this puts under restraint NKR’s foreign policy.

“Secondly, security guarantees of Nagorno Karabakh and its people shouldn’t cave in the today’s ones. The significant factors of today’s security of Nagorno Karabakh are its positions, which ensure a military balance and control over Azerbaijan’s claims,” said Kocharian.

“We can speak about peacekeepers, their location and number only after we agree on the issues of Nagorno Karabakh’s status and security guarantees. After this [agreement is reached] the talks can be held between Azerbaijan and Nagorno Karabakh,” he said.

Kocharian also added that some parts of Martouni and Martakert regions as well as Shaumian region of Nagorno Karabakh are still under Azerbaijani control and occupation.