Armenian Foreign Minister: "Azerbaijan's bellicose rhetoric can be assessed as blackmail"

"I do not understand why Azerbaijani leadership makes such statements. To answer to any of such bellicose statements means to worsen the situation before the important meetings of the two presidents on June 6, said Nalbandyan during the press conference on Monday, commenting on the previously made statement of Azerbaijani Defense Minister.

"We initiate talks with the intention to settle the conflict, being aware that this is necessary for the interests of both Armenian and Azerbaijani people", said the Armenian Foreign Minister.

According to Nalbandyan, holding talks on the resolution of Nagorno Karabakh conflict means suspension of political propaganda. The Minister noted that the conflict settlement is impossible with such bellicose propaganda in neighbor Azerbaijan.

Nalbandyan reminded the situation of 2001, when following the talks in Ki-West the countries were ready to the conflict settlement.

"But this did not occur as Azerbaijan declared that its population is not ready to the conflict settlement", noted the minister.

He also drew journalist's attention to the fact that 29% of Azerbaijanis support the forced resolution of the conflict, in line with public polls and 82% of the population negatively assess the activity of the OSCE Minsk Group.

"This figure is unclear to me. I do not know any other country, even being in a state of war, where the percentage of people supporting forced resolution of the conflict is so high and it is absurd to blame the countries, ready to assist in the conflict resolution", said Nalbandyan.

/Novosti-Armenia/