Karabakh status must be decided before discussing return of any territories to Azerbaijan - Armenian president's press secretary
YEREVAN. Nov 30 (Interfax) - There is no question about returning any lands to Azerbaijan without first determining the status of Nagorno Karabakh, and an enclave is out of the question, Armenian presidential press secretary Vladimir Hakobyan said.
"The question of returning any territories to Azerbaijan can only be of substance in the event of determining the status of the [breakaway] Nagorno-Karabakh Republic [NKR]. The problem-resolution package reinforces the need to preserve the land connection between Armenia and the NKR. This has repeatedly been stated by both Armenia and the [OSCE Minsk Group] co-chairmen," Hakobyan told the Armenian-language service of Radio Liberty.
This is not just about Armenia and Karabakh preserving their land connection; it also means a safety connection "that will fully protect [them] from any encroachments on the part of Azerbaijan," he said.
"Enclave status for the NKR is out of the question. Especially after April's war, the current status of the territories forming the security belt is more than justified, given the continuing and immediate security threat to the people of the NKR," Hakobyan said.