Itar-Tass
01-JAN-98
YEREVAN–January 2 (Itar-Tass) – Armenian President Levon Ter-Petrosyan said on Thursday night the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has remained the highest priority of Armenia’s foreign policy.
This settlement is a precondition of the development of Armenia’s statehood and economy–Ter-Petrosyan said on national television on the occasion of the New Year holiday.
He reminded that Yerevan has taken a "steadfast position" on this issue–demanding that the three conflicting sides — Armenia–Azerbaijan and Nagorno-Karabakh — strictly observe a ceasefire and do not plan any new combat actions.
He said the only basis for the conflict settlement must be a compromise to be reached during peace talks co-sponsored by a Minsk conference of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe.