Saturday, April 30 2016 05:05

 The statement made by Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov on Baku's readiness to continue negotiations on Karabakh settlement is an attempt to throw dust in the eyes of the international community, Deputy Speaker of Armenian parliament and Press Secretary of Ruling Republican Party Eduard Sharmazanov told in a talk to ArmInfo's correspondent touching upon the recent statement of the Azerbaijani foreign minister. 

But Baku will fail in its attempts as both Minsk co-chairs and international community remember the militaristic statements made permanently by the Azerbaijani leadership, which have nothing in common with the intention to hold constructive negotiations, the Deputy Speaker noted. Touching upon Mammadyarov's statement that the conditions put forward by Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan for the resumption of negotiations undermine the peace process on the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Sharmazanov stated "Not only we but the international mediators also state that the Armenian side has always demonstrated constructivism and readiness for negotiations, the co-chairs have repeatedly noted that Kazan proposals and principles on implementation of mechanisms for investigating the borderline incidents were acceptable for the Armenian side.  Baku was the one to refuse from them. These facts and not unfounded statements testify to the sides' readiness for negotiations. As for the Armenian side's stand related to continuing negotiations there is nothing new in this issue we are guided by the world experience.  Negotiations cannot continue when military actions are underway negotiations are always held in conditions of ceasefire. Our stand is based on this logic, we are ready to continue negotiations if conditions for preventing Azerbaijan's further aggression and implementation of mechanisms for investigating the borderline incidents are created", Sharmazanov stated. 

Touching upon Mammadyarov's statement that Russia has prepared a new document on Karabakh settlement the so called "updated Madrid principles", which envisage gradual settlement of the conflict and in which Baku is interested the Deputy Speaker stated: "Why to cite Mammadyarov in such issues, as far as I know he is not the Spokesman of the Russian foreign ministry. Lavrov himself stated during his latest visit to Yerevan that there is no new document and the negotiations are being held on Kazan proposals, which were rejected by Baku possibly because of conflict with its interests". 
To note, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov stated today that there are updated Madrid principles, proposed by Russia, which offer a phased settlement. According to him Baku is interested in this proposals and the document will be discussed with the Russian side in the nearest future.