The population of Nagorno-Karabakh must decide its own fate: Mnatsakanyan's interview with CNN

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, Zohrab Mnatsakanyan, has voiced concerns on CNN regarding the targeting of civilian settlements in Artsakh by Azerbaijani armed forces. “While we are here in Washington, working to strengthen the ceasefire agreement and return to a peaceful solution, we are receiving messages from Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh that civilian settlements – Stepanakert, Martuni, and Hadrut – are once again being targeted by Azerbaijani armed forces. Civilians are being killed,” Mnatsakanyan stated, as reported by Armenpress.

The Foreign Minister added that there are security lines, and without these, the people of Nagorno-Karabakh would face the threat of ethnic cleansing. “In 1992-1993, we had a very dangerous situation when Azerbaijan occupied much of Nagorno-Karabakh, and the people living there were displaced. Armenians were able to create security lines to protect their lives, which still exist today. If these lines do not exist, the people of Nagorno-Karabakh may again face ethnic cleansing,” he noted.

Zohrab Mnatsakanyan emphasized that for Armenia, the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue can only be based on compromises, and the solution can only be achieved through peaceful means. “The people of Nagorno-Karabakh have the right to self-determination, which must be respected. Azerbaijan must cease its maximalist approaches,” Mnatsakanyan stated.