Lavrov's Statement is Both a Message and an OSCE Collective Approach: Babayan

Russian Foreign Minister's statement is both a message and an OSCE Minsk Group's collective approach. Official Stepanakert repeatedly emphasizes that there can be no comprehensive settlement without the direct participation of Artsakh, across all negotiation platforms.

Moreover, the participation of Artsakh must be consistently reaffirmed, not suspended due to Azerbaijan's hysteria. Artsakh is ready to discuss any issue, but there can be no return to the past, whether regarding territories, borders, or status.

This was stated by David Babayan, the press secretary to the President of Artsakh, in an interview with Sputnik Armenia. According to him, the matter is already reaching the highest levels, and this important precondition is being discussed both by the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group and senior OSCE officials and leaders.

“Reaching concessions is very difficult; however, the Artsakh side has always said that any step must be commensurate. When we talk about a comprehensive settlement, we mean that there are several conditions without which it is impossible to achieve complete peace. Maximalist approaches are unacceptable,” he noted.

When Azerbaijan propagates that Shushi, Zangezur, Yerevan, and Sevan belong to them, it is impossible to expect any changes. According to Babayan, we are discussing the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict imposed on us by Azerbaijan, while they emphasize the Armenian-Azerbaijani terminology, meaning they consider the issue within the context of two peoples.

For them, Zangezur, Yerevan, and Sevan are also part of the conflict. This is a fundamentally different worldview, different ideas.

“For a comprehensive settlement to occur, of course, all parties must agree. Official Stepanakert has been talking about this for years, and this thesis is also presented by official Yerevan. It is impossible to reach a comprehensive settlement without historical reconciliation between the peoples, as was achieved, for example, by the Germans and Russians, the Germans and French,” Babayan said.

In his view, we defend our homeland; we are not genocidal. In contrast, Azerbaijan continues to propagate hatred towards Armenians. The settlement must begin from the grassroots level, from kindergartens, schools—avoiding the promotion of hatred; otherwise, at the upper levels, there will be no change in opinions and approaches.

Details can be found on the original source website.