The recent announcement on part of the US co-chairman saying that the territories should be returned to Azerbaijan step-by-step and provide conditions for refugees to return to their places has created real confusion among the authorities. The first reaction to the mentioned announcement was the foreign ministry spokesperson’s announcement. “No issues concerning leaving territories were discussed at the meeting of the presidents in Prague on May 7. The discussions were mostly focused on the issue of Karabakh’s status, which is natural because it is the main topic of the negotiations to settle the conflict,” said Tigran Balayan, the foreign affairs ministry’s spokesman. In addition, RPA party spokesman Edward Sharmazanov said, “I am far from believing that the American co-chairman would make such announcement because only those people would dare to make such announcement who don’t want to support the conflict peaceful settlement. Even if Bryza has made such announcement, it is not clear based on what he did it because it is a fact that Karabakh cannot be in the territory of Azerbaijan in any status, and the main issue of the conflict of Karabakh is the status, which has been emphasized by the Armenian party for many times too. Nagorno Karabakh has never been in the territory of the independent Azerbaijani state. The people of Nagorno Karabakh defined their status based on all international norms, and as a result of Azerbaijan’s groundless aggression they protected their integral rights and acquired guarantees and security in a war. Today thepeople of Nagorno Karabakh are successfully building their statehood and establishing their democratic institutions.”
