ArmInfo.Two key events took of 2016 political-social life were the April war and the Government shift, Artak Zakaryan, the Chairman of National Assembly Permanent Commission on Foreign Affairs said, summarizing the results of the year at December 20 press conference.
"In the first case we had to stand against the external aggression, which made us to make a fundamental review of our positions and approaches in respect to a number of issues, including Nagorno karabakh conflict settlement," the law maker mentioned. At the same time he stated his confidence that the external aggression became the indicator of the unification and joining of all the Armenian nation. Armenian law maker accentuated thaty the military aggression against Artsakh proved once again that the safety of nagorno karabakh should be secured by providing a military balance in the region. "Vienna and St. Petersburg agreements showed that there is no reason to speak about total comprehensive settlement of Karabakh conflict, while there is a lack of trust between the sides, athe cease fire agreement is being denied and the 1994 cease fire regime is not improved, Zakaryan mentioned.
Armenian politician is also confident, that the adjudication of Nagorno Karabakh as an independent state is the key for the conflict settlement. According to Zakaryan, unless NKR is not adjudicated, and the safety guarantees for NKR and Karabakh people are not secured, there could be not a single word about any backdowns including giving up any territories. " We have got a neighbor thinking that this conflict might be settled by military force and due to economic capacities. Meanwhile, there is no any option existing other than the peaceful settlement," the law maker said.
Armenian law maker disagreed also with the statement claiming that Armenia was imposed an armament race. "In 2016, Armenian-Russian military cooperation obtained a new impulse. There is a number of agreements signed in the sector of defense, including the Agreement on Joint Military Group. Simultaneously, Armenia develops the interaction with NATO. Armenian is just trying to secure own safety from external threats," Zakaryan said. At the same time the law maker is sure, that Armenia could successfully deal with al the tasks faced under external challenges.