“During 22 years Baku used the negotiations process as a cover”
Support A1+!Deputy Foreign Minister Shavarsh Kocharyan’s answer to ARMENPRESS news agency Question: “Mr. Kocharyan, today marks the 22nd anniversary of the signing of the 1994 ceasefire agreement by Nagorno Karabakh, Armenia and Azerbaijan. In this context, how can you comment the Azerbaijani aggression against Nagorno Karabakh in April? – Answer: First, let’s note that the signing of the 1994 May 12 ceasefire agreement became possible because the Azerbaijani leadership initiated direct talks with the Nagorno Karabakhi leadership. This proves the progress of the settlement issue is possible only by the full participation of Nagorno Karabakh in the negotiations. Let’s also note, the maintenance of the 1994 ceasefire is the international obligation of the sides, and the April 2-5 Azerbaijani military offensive against Nagorno Karabakh is a gross violation of this obligation and a blatant aggression. The Azerbaijani aggression of April proved to everyone that during the previous 22 years, Baku used the negotiations process as a cover to acquire weapons and solve the issue by military means, which was the main reason of the maintenance of the status quo in the conflict zone. The urges of the Minsk Group Co-chairing countries for strictly maintaining and strengthening the 1994 trilateral ceasefire are quite understandable, as a basis of a peaceful negotiating process.
