"Baku justifies internal issues by NK conflict”, Armenian President says

Armenian President made this statement during his speech at John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University on March 30.

“It’s been 22 years since the ceasefire of 1994, but until this day residents at Armenian state borders and in various areas in NKR live under permanent threat of fire. It is common knowledge that the ruling Azerbaijani regime uses this conflict to justify the current issues in the country. I believe that you’re familiar with this policy from your international relations theory. This is the reason that Azerbaijani government tries to keep the tension at borders at any cost and is disrespectfully proud of it, publicly accuses the mediators of inaction and appears a hero before its people by that,” said Armenian President.

Touching upon the word “occupation” speculated in relation to NK conflict, Serzh Sargsyan said that people who use that expression frequently forget that Karabakh had been a victim of occupation for 70 years.

“I want to ask all those who use the word “occupation” consciencely or unconsciencely: what was the annexation of Karabakh to Azerbaijan signed by Stalin in 1921, if not occupation?” noted Armenian President and added that the reson of conflict was that initial occupation, “therefore, Nagorno-Karabakh has no connection whatsoever to the current concept of territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.”

Serzh Sargsyan remarked that “Azerbaijan’s idea of negotiations is very fram from modern understanding”.

“It’s impossible to resolve any issue with maximalist and unilateral demands. I will only say one thing to allow you to understand what negotiations with Azerbaijan are: Azerbaijan considers not restarting military actions to be a compromise when peace is not a compromise, but a duty, an international duty,” said Armenian President.