Serzh Sargsyan: "The core of the conflict is a status of Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan must recognize the right of its people for self-determination"

"Armenia attaches importance to the adoption of a joint declaration with Azerbaijan in the context of exclusion of the forced settlement of the Karabakh conflict", said Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan in his interview to German newspaper "Frankfurter algemeine tseitung".

"It is important for us that Azerbaijan has signed a document, ruling out the forced resolution and recognized all principles of international law on the resolution of this conflict and not only those, related to the territorial integrity", said Sargsyan.

The President noted that "the core of the conflict is a status of Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan must recognize the right of its people for self-determination". After it, he said other problems can be settled as well.

He said in this connection that the control over the regions, adjacent to Nagorno Karabakh is not a purpose for the Armenian side, but this is required for its protection.

"We need talks on the basic document and then a peace treaty. We have a long way to pass", noted Sargsyan.

Asked if Karabakh can be an autonomy, Sargsyan said: "The matter is to create an environment of security for the population".

"History showed that this is important in Azerbaijan. We never believed that Karabakh can remain within Azerbaijan and it is not important with which status", said Sargsyan.

/Novosti-Armenia/