Serzh Sargsyan's interview, spread by BBC Azerbaijan, not distorted

According to the press service for the Armenian President, while talking to the radio station correspondent Sargsyan did not say that in case Azerbaijan invests in Nagorno Karabakh, it may further agree to stay within Azerbaijan.

The press service says that Azerbaijani mass medias have distorted Sargsyan's interview. It is reported that Serzh Sargsyan said in case a referendum is held in Nagorno Karabakh, the Karabakh Armenians would vote for cessation from Azerbaijan. "The president said in the interview that he called on the President of Azerbaijan to invest in Nagorno Karabakh to demonstrate the interest in security and welfare of the population of Nagorno Karabakh. Yet the Armenian President did not say that Karabakh Armenians would agree to stay within Azerbaijan. Moreover, Sargsyan said that "if Karabakh returns to Azerbaijan, not a single Armenian will be left there within a short period of time", says the statement.

Correspondent of BBC Moscow Eldar Ismayilzade, who was present at the aforementioned interview with Serzh Sargsyan, told ANS-PRESS that he bears full responsibility for what he has written: "We have recorded Serzh Sargsyan's interview in Armenian. He spoke in Armenian and it was translated into English. All that he has said was posted on the website of BBC Azerbaijan. I have spoken to the translator today and he told me that nothing was distorted in this interview".

It should be reminded that in his interview to the journalists in Yerevan Serzh Sargsyan said: "I have suggested to President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev to invest into Nagorno Karabakh to demonstrate Azerbaijanis' interest in the welfare and security of Nagorno Karabakh. Perhaps, after it Armenians in Karabakh would speak for living within Azerbaijan". At the same time, the Armenian President noted that there is no other way out. He said that if something extraordinary happens and Karabakh returns to Azerbaijan, not a single Armenia will be left there.

/Day.Az/