Armenia Will Continue Efforts Towards Resolution of the Karabakh Conflict
LOS ANGELES — On September 24 Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian delivered a speech on Armenia’s foreign policy at the Los Angeles World Affairs Council. The event was attended by diplomats accredited inLos Angeles, political scientists, representatives of the Department of State, journalists.
In his speech Minister Nalbandian referred to the main directions ofArmenia’s Foreign Policy, the Armenian-American relations and Armenia’s efforts in that direction.
Presenting the main directions of Armenia’s foreign policy, Minister Nalbandian said Armenia is conducting a multi-vector policy. “The deepening of relations with countries of the north and south and the diversification of the spheres of cooperation are among the important objectives of our foreign policy. When building relations with our partners, we are guided by the principles of reciprocity, trust, good will and respect for each other’s interests. These principles lie in the basis of our strategic relations with Russia, our close partnership with the United States, our active cooperation with the European Union, as well as the firm relations with a number of partner countries,” Minister Nalbandian said.
Referring to the Armenian-American relations, the Foreign Minister noted that the United Stateshas been rendering support to Armenia in the course of the past twenty years, and the humanitarian aid has gradually grown into mutually beneficial cooperation.
“We hope that the 20th anniversary of diplomatic relations will open wider opportunities for the development of our bilateral relations,” he said.
Edward Nalbandian presented the current state of the negotiations on the resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. In this context he underlined that “Armenia shares the position of the international community that the issue should be solved exceptionally in a peaceful way.”
“Azerbaijan constantly endangers the regional stability with its threats of use of force, bellicose statements, increase of its military budget, provocations at the line of contact, ceasefire violations, systematic demonstration of vandalism against the Armenian cultural monuments and propaganda of hatred against Armenian,” Minister Nalbandian said.
“Despite the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs in the course of the past four years, it has been impossible to reach a breakthrough in the settlement process, as the Azerbaijani side has been turning down all proposals submitted by the mediators,” the Minister said.
“Azerbaijan not only ignores the calls of the international community, but also takes new steps, which grossly violate the values of the civilized world. The most recent example was the release and glorification of murderer Safarov, which shocked the international community.”
“There is no international organization, no state, for which Azerbaijan’s step would be acceptable. The reaction of the international community was unequivocal – a severe condemnation of Baku’s step. No less shocking was the response of Azerbaijan to the approaches of the international community; Baku insists that all it did, it did correctly,” Minister Nalbandian said.
“The shameful deal on Safarov caused a serious damage to the process of settlement of the Karabakh issue, as well as the efforts targeted at the reinforcement of regional security and stability. This is another step by Azerbaijan to frustrate the efforts of the Minsk Group Co-Chairs,” Edward Nalbandian stated.
“Despite the non-constructive steps of Azerbaijan, Armenia will continue its efforts towards the settlement of the Karabakh issue exceptionally through peaceful means on the basis of the objectives incorporated in the UN Charter and the principles and norms of international law,” Edward Nalbandian concluded.
