What did Sargsyan say to Aliyev?
We can only draw conclusions about the "significant progress" achieved during the meeting of Presidents Serzh Sargsyan and Ilham Aliyev in Munich before the presidents brief them to us.
"Serzh Sargsyan has proved that he is an open political figure. Firstly, we must make it clear that the solution to the Karabakh conflict lies in Stepanakert. The conflict cannot be resolved unless Stepanakert is involved in talks," Spokesman for the Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) Edward Nalbandian told A1+.
Asked whether he is confident that Serzh Sargsyan made a similar statement during today's talks, Sharmazanov said: "Surely, he has. The Armenian side raises the issue at each meeting with Azerbaijani President and Co-Chairs."
Edward Nalbandian notes that the talks proved to be efficient.
Before the meeting Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev "stood out" for his warlike statements which were later criticized by the Co-Chairs and made them announce: "The peaceful settlement of the conflict has no alternative.
The coverage of today's meeting by international mass media shows that the negotiations focus on the settlement of the Karabakh conflict through a referendum. Earlier the Azerbaijani side rejected that Karabakh's status is put on the negotiation table. Karabakh's status is the first and foremost issue for Armenia."
In reply to A1+'s observation that Azerbaijan has announced many times that a referendum can be held after Karabakh is engaged into Azerbaijan, the HHK spokesman said: "Azerbaijan also disapproved of the activity of the Minsk group and suggested that the group be disbanded. They also rejected the Madrid Principals and the interim and final status of Karabakh. But as you see nothing has changed ever since."
Sharmazanov is hopeful that during the meeting Serzh Sargsyan said to Ilham Aliyev: "We shall not go to unilateral concessions."
"I think that the meeting made Armenia more respectful and constructive in the eyes of intentional community and Minsk Group's Co-Chair countries," the HHK spokesman concluded.
