Pressures on Armenia have increased much in terms of the settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict: senior official

"Azerbaijan’s position is known to the entire world. The conflict should be solved within Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity. But Azerbaijan wants to solve it through negotiations and in a peaceful way. The question is “What will Armenia’s position be?” Armenia impedes the solution of the conflict by frequently changing its position," Mammadov said.

" In this respect, I think if Armenia, like Azerbaijan, demonstrates will and does its best for the peaceful solution to the conflict, the conflict will be solved irrespective of the co-chairs."

"Each of the co-chairs represent one country, they simply try to simplify the settlement of the conflict. Of course, the co-chairs have worked for certain time, have experience in this field, deal with the problem. I think they will continue working till the end of this year. But if both parties demonstrate will, especially if Armenia has constructive position, the problem may be solved," he added.

"The recent processes make the settlement of the conflict necessary. Pressures on Armenia have increased. Armenia-Turkey issues, recent process of negotiations, the increase of the co-chairing countries’ interest in the settlement of the conflict, Azerbaijani president’s recent steps, joint statement issued in Italy by the presidents of the US, Russia and France, the opinion of the U.S. Department of State on the Madrid principles and Russia’s activeness in this issue increase pressure on Armenia."

"On the other hand, if we take into account the global financial crisis, this leaves Armenia in a difficult condition. Armenian authorities should understand that they have no alternative way to the settlement of the conflict. Despite this, they have become prisoners of their ideas, they still hesitate in taking serious steps concerning the solution of the conflict. But now the negotiations are on active phase and very likely a step will be taken forward in one of the forthcoming meetings.In this respect, we should wait for the co-chairs’ visit to Azerbaijan. What will they suggest basing on the Madrid principles? Only after that something concrete may be said," Mammadov said.

/APA/