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FM Nalbandian: Our friendship with Russia has stood the test of time
13:38 * 14.03.15
In an interview with the Slovenic publication Dnevnik, Foreign
Minister Edward Nalbandian commented upon Armenia's traditionally
developed friendly relations with Russia and that country's role in
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement as a co-chair of the OSCE
MInsk Group.
Edward Nalbandian said he finds the alliance with the country more
than just a friendship, adding that the bilateral relations with the
country have long stood the test of time.
Asked how he treats the Azerbaijani-Russian arms trade against the
backdrop of the unresolved Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the minister
said he would prefer that Russia hadn't offered such a deal to the
country. "We never ask friends or partner states to do anything for
Armenia to the detriment of others. As regards the Karabakh conflict
settlement, our expectation is not assistance to our side against the
other's interest but rather - support to the Minsk Group co-chairs'
position reflecting the international community's approach. And Russia
is one of the co-chairs [of the mission]. The co-chairing [states] -
Russia, US and France - have, in the person of their presidents,
expressed their position in five different statements."
"Our position is in line with the Minsk Group co-chairs' proposals. We
have hailed the five statements by the co-chairing countries and said
we are ready to move ahead with settlement based on the proposed three
principles and elements of international law [self-deternination,
territorial integrity and non-use force]," he added.
Asked whether he doesn't think that Azerbaijan's rich oil and natural
gas resources increase its advantages in the Minsk Group-mediated
negotiations, Nalbandian said he treats all such kinds of statements
and perceptions as nothing more than an illusion. "Azerbaijan boasts
its strength, but that just an illusion. A country which propagates
war instead of peace cannot be powerful. Over the past ten years,
Azerbaijan has increased its military budget around 30 times,
intensifying its military rhetoric and hate campaign and threatening
ceaselessly to use force," he added.
http://www.tert.am/en/news/2015/03/14/nalbandyan/1617278
13:38 * 14.03.15
In an interview with the Slovenic publication Dnevnik, Foreign
Minister Edward Nalbandian commented upon Armenia's traditionally
developed friendly relations with Russia and that country's role in
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement as a co-chair of the OSCE
MInsk Group.
Edward Nalbandian said he finds the alliance with the country more
than just a friendship, adding that the bilateral relations with the
country have long stood the test of time.
Asked how he treats the Azerbaijani-Russian arms trade against the
backdrop of the unresolved Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the minister
said he would prefer that Russia hadn't offered such a deal to the
country. "We never ask friends or partner states to do anything for
Armenia to the detriment of others. As regards the Karabakh conflict
settlement, our expectation is not assistance to our side against the
other's interest but rather - support to the Minsk Group co-chairs'
position reflecting the international community's approach. And Russia
is one of the co-chairs [of the mission]. The co-chairing [states] -
Russia, US and France - have, in the person of their presidents,
expressed their position in five different statements."
"Our position is in line with the Minsk Group co-chairs' proposals. We
have hailed the five statements by the co-chairing countries and said
we are ready to move ahead with settlement based on the proposed three
principles and elements of international law [self-deternination,
territorial integrity and non-use force]," he added.
Asked whether he doesn't think that Azerbaijan's rich oil and natural
gas resources increase its advantages in the Minsk Group-mediated
negotiations, Nalbandian said he treats all such kinds of statements
and perceptions as nothing more than an illusion. "Azerbaijan boasts
its strength, but that just an illusion. A country which propagates
war instead of peace cannot be powerful. Over the past ten years,
Azerbaijan has increased its military budget around 30 times,
intensifying its military rhetoric and hate campaign and threatening
ceaselessly to use force," he added.
http://www.tert.am/en/news/2015/03/14/nalbandyan/1617278