Azerbaijan Recognized NKR’s Independence in 1994: Shavarsh Kocharyan

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev uttered the usual monologue about a dialogue that did not take place, RA Deputy Foreign Minister Shavarsh Kocharyan told local news agency Mediamax, while commenting on several of Aliyev’s statements on settling the Nagorno-Karabakh (NKR) conflict.

“According to that monologue, Azerbaijan has in principle finished the talks conducted with itself and what it has achieved generally is in Azerbaijan’s interests. ... More likely he [Aliyev] cannot reach an agreement even with himself,” Kocharyan was reported as saying.

In his words, after having constitutionally established the inability to replace a presidency that has been inherited, Aliyev has now retained his right to speak on behalf of time, international law, mediators, and the people of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh.

“Baku pretends as if it does not understand that there is no alternative to Nagorno-Karabakh’s independence be it now, in a hundred years or ever. The Republic of Nagorno Karabakh is an established state that meets the norms of international law, one that has been able to resist Azerbaijani aggression and its policy of ethnic cleansing. Yet Azerbaijan was obliged to sign a ceasefire [agreement] with Nagorno-Karabakh and recognize its independence in 1994,” said Kocharyan.

According to Kocharyan, Aliyev’s statements are strong proof that he is not ready for constructive dialogue. Azerbaijan, still making bellicose statements, now has the chance to withdraw its troops from the occupied NKR territories and to begin negotiations with NKR till the balloon of illusions and distortions pops, said Kocharyan.