YEREVAN (Combined Sources)–The resolution of the Karabakh issue still has a long way to go, President Serzh Sarkisian said Saturday in an interview with Armenian Public TV.
“We should try to come to a decision, which I am sure, is based on the interests of our people. After that, the issue should be discussed by the public. Then we will need to sign a treaty, then an agreement;” the President said, adding: “When I repeatedly state that we will not protract the solution of the issue, it does not mean the question will be solved tomorrow, in a month or in four months.”
Sarkisian expressed confidence that “we should not artificially delay the resolution of the conflict, but we still need to arrive at an agreement, which is a long process. This is not an issue to be solved by one, two, 131 or even 1,300 people. This is one of the most vital issues for our people, and people should say whether they agree with the resolution as a result of negotiations,” said Sarkisian.
He said that he supports the inclusion of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic and its president Bako Sahakian in the negotiation process and considers that “it is probably the most effective way and it will be the case earlier or later. There is simply no other way.”
Sarkisian also highlighted the importance of the Moscow declaration, saying that it is the only document in which Azerbaijan agrees to a political resolution.
The President rejected the rumors that Armenia goes for unilateral concessions. “I have always stated and I want to repeat that the Nagorno Karabakh issue can be solved if Azerbaijan accepts the right of the people of Artsakh to self-determination, if Armenia and Karabakh have a shared border and if the population of Nagorno Karabakh gets powerful security guarantees. Over the past 17-18 years I have never used the “unilateral concession” expression.”