Garnik Isagulyan

YEREVAN (Combined Sources)—Armenia has already made all the compromises possible in talks with Azerbaijan and there are no plans for new ones, said presidential aide Garnik Isagulyan at a press conference Thursday.

“The meeting in Kazan proved that the position of the Armenian President on Karabakh issue is firm, and it is senseless to expect unilateral concessions from Armenia,” said Isagulyan.

He explained that the compromises already made by Armenia, as the winning side of the war, are not being comprehended by Azerbaijan, which continues to put forth new demands and amendments to the peace principles. He also said that Azerbaijan’s delay tactics are useless.

“We made compromises before 1995 and in 1998, and it would not be right to make compromises today and expect Azerbaijan to change its position,” said Isagulyan.

“Now we need to demonstrate to the international community that Armenia is not about to make any more compromises, since none of the ones that have been made have softened Azerbaijan’s position or its military rhetoric,” added Isagulyan.

Isagulyan enumerated what he said were major compromises already made by Armenia, among them Armenia refraining from recognizing the independence of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and not including the people of Karabakh in Armenian elections, despite the fact that in Soviet times Karabakh was represented by 11 representatives in Armenia’s Supreme Council.

The main elements Isagulyan emphasized were Karabakh’s not being involved in the negotiation process and having Armenia represent its interests.

Isagoulian said without Karabakh’s participation, the negotiations become symbolic. He stressed that the most important issue in the talks is determining Karabakh’s status.

“All meetings, talks and visits will be of advisory character unless Nagorno Karabakh becomes party to the talks. Karabakh must return to the bargaining table as a full party to the talks,” he said.

Isagulyan said the since the collapse of the Soviet Union, Azerbaijan has received more military than Armenia, Georgia and Nagorno-Karabakh combined

“Azerbaijan had 458 tanks, 1264 armored cars, 395 units of artillery, 63 rockets, 53 military and 52 training planes before 1993 unlike Armenia, but Armenia won the war,” he explained.

In discussing Azerbaijan’s increased military spending, Isagulyan stressed it does not mean anything, as weapons are not the most important thing in a war.

“If Azerbaijan resorts to military operations, it will mourn the loss of new territories,” he emphasized.