Shavarsh Kocharyan: I am an advocate for full embargo on arms for all conflicting parties in region

For continuation of negotiations by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs' mediation, it is necessary to consolidate the cease-fire regime. It is impossible to negotiate when shooting is continuing, Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Shavarsh Kocharyan said in an interview to Austrian "Die Presse" daily, Armenia's foreign ministry reports.

Given a question why the ceasefire regime is not observed the deputy foreign minister recalled that the cease-fire was established in 1994 by the trilateral (Nagorno-Karabakh, Armenia and Azerbaijan) cease-fire agreement signed. Despite regular violations, it is in force up to date. On April 2, Azerbaijan breached the agreement, unleashing military actions. "The 1994 agreement was restored under an oral arrangement of April 5. Azerbaijan tries to undermine the Minsk process. It is now important to consolidate the cease-fire.  Our servicemen were killed also after April 5", he said. Answering to the interviewer's comment that the same is on the other side, as is informed from Baku, Kocharyan said that he cannot exclude that, as the Nagorno-Karabakh Army is forced to respond to the firing.

Answering to the question why the situation escalated Kocharyan said that this question should be addressed to Baku. "There might be different reasons. It is Baku's policy to resolve this issue through use of force. Obviously, they had an illusion of carrying out a blitzkrieg. They failed. There is a huge discontent in the country, concerning the corrupt regime. War may distract attention" the diplomat is assured.

At the same time the Armenian diplomat is assured that the war is a threat to everyone, both to Armenians and Azerbaijanis. According to the deputy minister, the Azerbaijani side demonstrated that they do not follow those arrangements. "When it comes to military equipment, I should mention, that yes, Baku is a "leading champion" in arming.  But this did not help in carrying out a pre-planned blitzkrieg", he mentioned.

Kocharyan thinks that international mediators should openly condemn Baku's offensives; one should no longer turn a blind eye to this.

"All the time Baku demands withdrawal from "occupied" territories, however, withholds the fact that there are regions of Nagorno-Karabakh that are under the Azerbaijani control. Madrid principles read about self- determination of Nagorno-Karabakh and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, and there is a possibility for compromise here. One should realize that there are issues, which are beyond Armenia's jurisdiction.  Yerevan cannot say we are ready to return territories, when it concerns Nagorno-Karabakh. Yerevan cannot make a decision on the status of Nagorno-Karabakh. They |Nagorno-Karabakh| are the ones to decide. We do not recognize Nagorno-Karabakh in order to preserve the negotiation process", the Deputy Foreign Minister noted.

Touching upon the discussions over recognition of Nagorno-Karabakh by Armenia Kocharyan pointed at the fact that President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan stated that once Azerbaijan launches a large-scale aggression, this would lead to the recognition of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic by Armenia.

Answering to the question whether Moscow is truly Yerevan's ally Shavarsh Kocharyan recalled that Russia is a mediator in the conflict and it has to maintain balance.

"According to the agreements, Moscow has obligations towards Armenia. However, Russia has very close economic ties with Azerbaijan. It is our ally, but also pursues its own interests in Azerbaijan. In the South Caucasus, within its zone of interests, Russia will always be inclined to maintain a balance", the diplomat thinks.

Touching upon the sale of Russian weapons, Kocharyan mentioned that the Armenian side continuously raises that issue, including on the level of our President.  "We understand what is going on, and we have all the reasons to be displeased. Russia says, that if it does not sale arms, others will do. I am an advocate for full embargo on arms for all the conflicting parties in the region. Three Co-Chair countries - USA, Russia and France - are able to achieve that in the United Nations Security Council. That would have been correct", Kocharyan summarized.