Armenian diplomat rules out mutual concessions over Karabakh

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent call on Armenia and Azerbaijan was a populist statement, an Armenian diplomat told reporters today, ruling out mutual concessions over Nagorno-Karabakh.
“Azerbaijan’s position is that it cannot head to negotiations with such slogans,” Armen Navasardyan said, reaffirming Armenia’s resolute stance on the issue.
“We will never make any decision on handing over territories, as it would mark [Nagorno-Karabakh capital] Stepanakert’s collapse.”
Asked to comment on the so-called Lavrov plan, the diplomat said he can only guess that the proposal made by the Russian foreign minister repeats the document adopted in Kazan back in 2011.
As a way towards coming out as a winner, he stressed the importance of solidarity and enrichment of internal resources.