Territorial integrity is not inviolability of borders

“The principle of territorial integrity does not mean inviolability of borders. Otherwise no new states would be established in the world, while dozens of new countries appeared on world map over the past 20-30 years,” Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan said in an interview to the Moskovskiye Novosti newspaper.

According to the Armenian President, Armenia and Azerbaijan really differ in how they understand the principle of territorial integrity. “But the entire world follows these principles. The two principles - territorial integrity and right of nations to self-determination - gave Azerbaijan and Armenia the possibility to achieve independence. How can they be interpreted in different ways? This is illogical.”

“The problem can only be resolved through compromise. Through all these years we have sought to find a compromise. Nagorno Karabakh must decide its own fate, must get all opportunities to live safely in its native land.”

S. Sargsyan stressed that OSCE Minsk Group proposed the document we call Madrid Principles. This document implies that the conflict resolution must be based on three principles – non-use of force or threat to use force, right of nations to self-determination and territorial integrity, and gives a possibility to continue the negotiations and prepare a key agreement.

“We clearly understand the meaning of these three principles. After long reflection, Azerbaijan also said “yes” but for some reason they interpret these principles in a unique way. Azerbaijan’s leadership is constantly threatening to resume military operations. It is a violation of the first principle. Both they and we understand the principle of territorial integrity, though there is an impression that they absolutize this principle outside the context of international law. They understand the right of self-determination as pure self-determination within Azerbaijan's territorial integrity. Therefore, it will be very difficult to achieve conflict resolution until Azerbaijan understands the meaning of this principle. Karabakh has achieved independence in a bloody and cruel war, in very hard circumstances, and it would be naïve to think that the people of Karabakh can abandon something they have achieved,” President Serzh Sargsyan said.