CONTEMPORARY EURASIA VIII (2) ContEurVIII2 | Page 50

ANNA KARAPETYAN
its delegation internally, increasing the presence of the Azerbaijani
community of Nagorno-Karabakh there. I see this as a sign of some
preparedness with the prospect of changing the negotiation format," 6
Cavano said in an interview with Voice of America. The Armenian side
did not respond adequately to this process.
Nikol Pashinyan's speech in Stepanakert on August 5, 2019, when
he announced that "Artsakh is Armenia and that is all" 7 again made the
issue of Artsakh's final status a matter of public discourse. Later, at a
conference in Vanadzor on September 16, Nikol Pashinyan made it clear
that such a resolution is the answer to Azerbaijan's uncompromising,
categorical approach - that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict should be
resolved solely on the basis of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity, as was
mentioned above. Azerbaijan, in its turn, has been consistent in its
statements and has pushed for the need to settle the conflict on the basis
of the principle of territorial integrity.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan noted that he was the
first to declare that any settlement of the conflict should be acceptable to
the peoples of Armenia, Artsakh, and Azerbaijan. He believed this to be
an important and innovative step and he expects a similar statement from
the President of Azerbaijan as well. However, the Azerbaijani side has
not responded to this statement.
Though this thesis intends to primarily create a positive
atmosphere for the negotiation process, it also raises certain challenges.
The realization of the right to self-determination, which is the basis for
the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, is an inalienable right
and it cannot be debated and become dependent on the will of the
Azerbaijani people.
As for discussions at the negotiation table, according to Nikol
Pashinyan's statement, "During discussions with the OSCE Minsk Group
Co-Chairs it was unofficially stated that the status of Nagorno-Karabakh
may be different, even outside Azerbaijan, etc." 8

6
“Details on Kocharyan, Pashinyan and Karabakh settlement by mediator,” VOA, June
27, 2019, https://www.amerikayidzayn.com/a/4975141.html (accessed October 23, 2019).
7 “Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s speech at the ceremonious opening of the 7th Pan-
Armenian Summer Games in Stepanakert,” Official Website of the Prime Minister of the
Republic of Armenia, August 7, 2019, https://www.primeminister.am/en/Artsakh-
visits/item/2019/08/05/Nikol-Pashinyan-visit-to-Artsakh/ (accessed October 23, 2019).
8 “100 Facts about New Armenia -2” - PM Nikol Pashinyan’s introductory remarks at his
press conference, Official Website of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia,
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