Stepanakert accused Baku of trying to "dismantle`` Artsakh statehood 

ArmInfo. An acceptable,  comprehensive and final settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict  is essential for Artsakh, while the way this goal will be achieved,  whether through a phased or package approach, is of secondary  importance. The Spokesperson of Artsakh President David Babayan  expressed a similar opinion in an interview with ArmInfo  correspondent.

According to him, Artsakh has repeatedly pointed out the importance  of the philosophy of resolving the problem, rather than the tools to  achieve the goal.

"If we take the philosophy of a phased resolution of the conflict,  then the core issues should be resolved at the first stage. For  example, Azerbaijan recognizes Artsakh as an independent state, and  NKR does the same in regard to Azerbaijan. Then, we can consider the  issue of borders and communications- that is, progressively, as the  importance of the issues decreases, "Babayan noted, adding that  meanwhile, Azerbaijan is trying to present resolution technologies  under the mask of phased settlement philosophy, which in turn, if  adopted, will lead to dismantling Artsakh statehood.

At the same time, he added that this is fraught with serious  consequences for the Armenian statehood in the future.

The representative of the head of Artsakh expressed regret that the  Azerbaijani side today is not seeking to resolve the causes of the  conflict, but to impose its vision of a settlement, proposing  unacceptable and unequal steps.

"In this regard, we have repeatedly emphasized that there can be no  return to the past on the issue of borders and status. The steps of  the parties in the peace process should be equal. And Azerbaijan's  current proposals, if adopted, will lead to disaster," the  Spokesperson of the NKR President summarized.

Earlier, Armenian Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan noted that  Yerevan admits the possibility of a phased resolution of the Karabakh  conflict with a strict preservation of the balance of obligations by  the parties. He noted that a phased settlement of the conflict is  only possible if parity compromises are proposed for all parties to  the conflict. "If someone believes that a phased option will be  chosen with a violation of the balance of obligations, then he is  mistaken. As one of our colleagues said, a phased option is possible,  but with the initial decision on the status of Artsakh, and then  everything else," the Minister stressed, adding that it does not  matter whether the resolution will be phased or package, most  importantly, maintaining the balance when implementing the settlement  plan. It should be noted that on April 21, Russian Foreign Minister  Sergey Lavrov said that the parties are discussing the settlement of  the Karabakh issue through a phased approach, suggesting at the first  stage the solution of the most pressing problems, the liberation of a  number of areas around Nagorno-Karabakh and the unblocking of  transport, economic, and other communications.

This statement of Lavrov caused a wide public outcry in Armenia.  Armenian Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan also responded to this  statement, who, referring to the issue of territorial concessions,  assured that none of the Armenian parties can make concessions that  could jeopardize the security of the people of Artsakh.