Certain Online Platforms Deliberately Distorted My Interview: Eduard Aghajanyan

Certain online platforms have deliberately distorted my interview with Radio Liberty, presenting it in such a way that I suggested discussing "the process of considering Artsakh as part of Azerbaijan" during negotiations. This was stated by MP Eduard Aghajanyan on his Facebook page.

"I find it necessary to quote that part of the interview verbatim:
— Mr. Aghajanyan, is Armenia ready, considering this first point presented by Azerbaijan, to start negotiations by viewing Artsakh as part of Azerbaijan? Let’s assume Baku is offering guarantees, you are constantly raising the issue of Armenian identity.
— I think negotiations should start…
— Including on that issue.
— I believe that the issue of negotiation should start. Including the final status of Artsakh.
— Which can also be part of Azerbaijan.
— I believe this should be clarified during negotiations.

The essence of my interaction with the journalist is as follows: Armenia advocates for a peaceful and diplomatic resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the minimum requirement of which is the initiation of negotiations. At the same time, Armenia rejects any preconditions being set before the start of negotiations. Therefore, the red lines of the parties should be presented and discussed during the negotiations themselves, rather than before they commence, which could be the shortest way to lead the process into a deadlock and ultimately derail it.

Thus, my proposal expressed on air was to resume negotiations, including aiming to clarify the final status of Nagorno-Karabakh, and not the "patchwork" of words between the journalist and me that some pseudo-journalists have presented," he noted.