YEREVAN, JULY 14, ARMENPRESS. MP Gagik Minasyan thinks that the normalization of Russian-Turkish relations and the recent announcement of the Azerbaijani president are not necessarily linked to each other. “3 days ago Aliyev once again reiterated the thesis that Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement must be carried out only through a step-by-step approach, ruling out the package settlement option, declaring that the only option for Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement is the preservation of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and incorporation of Karabakh into Azerbaijan, as they usually say, granting it a high status. In fact time passes but nothing changes in Azerbaijan’s position”, “Armenpress” reports the MP saying.

“Some analysts interpret Aliyev’s announcement as based on Lavrov’s proposals, thinking that the issue of Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement was one of the conditions for the normalization of Russian-Turkish relations. The stance demonstrated by Azerbaijan is nothing new, and it should not be necessarily linked with the recent developments. Anyway, we have to be ready to any development. We must be ready to defend our state and national interests, irrespective of some countries having domestic problems to be solved”, the MP added.

Gagik Minasyan added that based on Lavrov’s proposals it will be possible to understand if Russian-Turkish rapprochement includes the element of Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement. “If it is so, the unpleasant options enshrined in the Kazan document should be expected to reemerge, if no, we can expect positive and more constructive proposals”, the MP representing the ruling party said.

The speaker clarified that if the unpleasant options reemerge, Armenia will take relevant measures to lead the negotiations in the way they went on during the last 20 years. “The settlement cannot be based on not tantamount mutual concessions and cannot endanger the independence of Nagorno Karabakh or the security of its people”, the MP concluded.