Armenian FM Edward Nalbandian on Karabakh issue.

US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton stated that all principles and elements of the proposals introduced on the Nagorno Karabakh issue are designed as a whole, Armenian FM Edward Nalbandian stated in an interview with Der Standard daily of Austria.

“In response to the Azerbaijani aggression, Karabakh’s self-defense forces were forced to form a buffer zone around Karabakh. The return of territories is an element of the general negotiating package which the [OSCE] Minsk Group Co-Chairs have introduced. But if Azerbaijan places emphasis solely on the return of territories and circumvents all other aspects of the proposals, in response [to this] the US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton stated, in 2010 in Astana—and on behalf of the three Co-Chairs—that all principles and elements of the proposals introduced on the Nagorno Karabakh issue are designed as a whole, and separating them—or giving preeminence to one over the other—is unacceptable,” Nalbandian noted.

Armenia’s FM also reflected on the Armenian-Turkish relations and said: “The Armenian-Turkish relations were in an impasse prior to Armenian President’s initiative. We attempted to take them out of that impasse, but the Turkish side is doing everything to bring them back into the impasse. And with respect to the historians’ commission, the latter will not examine whether or not the Armenian Genocide occurred, as the Turkish side portrays. Its sole objective is to restore trust between the two peoples by way of dialogue. The historicity of the Genocide, which is recognized by numerous countries and international organizations, is not subject to discussion.”