During his interview to the Azerbaijani APA news agency the RA Minister of Foreign Affairs ascertained that during negotiations the parties are discussing the status of Karabakh. “Of course, the issue on status is debated, and it is the main issue. If the issue on status is not debated then what is discussed in negotiations?” he said also added that the issue on referendum, defining fate is being debated in negotiations. Oskanyan also assured that the upcoming presidential elections in Armenia and Azerbaijan won’t delay the negotiations process. “The elections will be held, but we do not link it with the process of negotiations. OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs will again visit the region either in January or in February and we will continue the negotiations. Of course, the main attention will be focused on the elections and we will not be able to pay attention to the settlement of the conflict as before. But the negotiations will continue,” stated Oskanyan. To the question, “Can the change of the government in Armenia have an impact on Armenia’s position?” Oskanyan said, “I hope it will not happen. That’s why the co-chairs want everybody in Armenia and all over the world to know the core principles in the document. Everybody should understand that no matter who will win the presidential elections in Armenia, the country will have the same position on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. This document is balanced and durable to compromise. We should be sure that irrespective of the results of presidential elections in Azerbaijan and Armenia, position on Nagorno Karabakh conflict will not change.” By the way the APA reporter also asked Oskanyan to comment on Armenian Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan’s statement on religious conflict. As a response Oskanyan said, “No, religious factor does not play role here. I can say assuredly that this is not conflict between Muslims and Christians. Different issues should not be mixed.”
