Sargsyan: Current stage of Karabakh settlement gives hope for its decision within fair dates

YEREVAN, November 30. / ARKA /. The current phase of the Karabakh settlement offers hope to reach its decision within a reasonable time, President of Armenia, Chairman of the Republican Party of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan said on Saturday.

"It is clear to any sensible person that a conflict resolution is an extremely complex process, and the decision could take years. However, the current stage of the hope promises that within a reasonable time this may be taken to its logical end," Serzh Sargsyan said at the congress of the RPA. 

As the president believes, unequivocally, that conflicts are long-term and stable solution only if based on fair and reasonable concessions. 

"Gone are the days of colonization of the peoples living on their own land. We have publicly stated that the Karabakh settlement should be based on the decision and the will of the people of Karabakh, as a society, reflecting the common will. Only in this case, the solution can be productive, long-term, achievable, and peaceful, " Sargsyan said. 

According to the head of state, in this case all parties of the Karabakh conflict an agreement should be reached around a single package that will contain all matters and all internationally enshrined mechanisms that provide a solution to this conflict. 

The beginning of the Karabakh conflict was settled in 1988, following a statement to withdraw from Azerbaijan by the predominantly Armenian-populated Nagorno-Karabakh. On December 10, 1991 there was held a referendum in Nagorno-Karabakh, in which 99.89% voted for full independence from Azerbaijan.

Following that Azerbaijan initiated large-scale war fares that led to a loss of control not only over Nagorno-Karabakh but also seven adjacent districts.

From 12th of May of 1994, after the entry of the tripartite agreement on truce in the conflict zone hostilities, in which around 25-30 thousand people were killed from both sides and nearly 1 million were forced to flee their homes, were ceased.

The agreement on the establishment of the ceasefire has been followed until now. From 1992 to date, negotiations are being held for a peaceful settlement of the conflict within the OSCE Minsk Group co-chaired by the United States, Russia and France.  –0-