ArmInfo.The greater is the pressure on the Artsakh people the more closely united they are, former state minister of Artsakh Ruben Vardanyan said in an interview with BFMnews as he commented on Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev's statement on Tuesday.
"I thought Mr Aliyev had good advisors, but his statements demonstrate they are good for nothing. I would advise him to dismiss them, because the harsher is this rhetoric the higher is the chance of Mr Aliyev appearing before the Hague Court," Mr Vardanyan said.
He can hardly imagine the means Azerbaijan could employ to expatriate 120,000 Armenians. "In any case that would be a crime against humanity. The greater is the pressure on the Artsakh people the more closely united they are. I think it is a way to nowhere," Mr Vardanyan said.
The only way is negotiations, with Azerbaijani recognizing Artsakh and its leaders as the other negotiator. "And normal internationally mediated negotiations must be held. Otherwise, it is a way to nowhere," he said.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev stated on Tuesday that Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians either have to become Azerbaijani nationals or leave Nagorno-Karabakh. Moreover, he announced Azerbaijan's intention to set up a checkpoint on the Lachin corridor.