Dozens of protesters, holding placards and banners, have set up a roadblock on the road to Lachin, renamed Berdzor since the Karabakh Armenians took control of this vital road linking their territory to Armenia in 1992. They stopped a convoy of véhcules on board which were the three co-chairs of the Minsk Group and other officials to make them aware leurx requirements.

The protesters, most of the inhabitants of the city and neighboring towns repopulated by Armenians have condemned recent statements mediators who emphasized, among other things, that the surrounding territories under the control of Armenian Karabakh should be returned to the Azerbaijan. They also expressed their anger for similar About the U.S. Co-Chair James Warlick, in a speech earlier this month. “We want the co-chairs know that we won our independence in 1991 and that the land can not be the subject of bargaining,” has a young demonstrator shouted, adding, “They must understand that we are the masters of our land “.

Speaking to journalists in Stepanakert Sunday, May 18, Mr. Warlick stated that he had been surprised by these unprecedented events, but nevertheless felt his fruitful exchange with the demonstrators. “The Nagorno-Karabakh is so beautiful and I am so impressed at the sight of this youth so large,” added the diplomat, but recalled: “It es … our duty to ensure that this new generation can live in peace. “ “We’re not here to impose solutions,” added M.Warlick, stressing the need to reach a compromise for a peace agreement that is acceptable to all parties to the conflict. “

In his controversial speech on 7 May, the U.S. mediator had listed six key elements of the draft peace agreement proposed by the mediators. One of these points stated that “the occupied territories surrounding Nagorno Karabakh should be returned to Azerbaijan.” While referring to the need for an agreement respecting the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, which souveraienté these teritoires must be restored “, said M.Warlick in Washington, he stressed that Karabakh should remain connected to the Armenia through the Lachin corridor, and after the withdrawal of Armenian disputed territories, a referendum should be held in which the predominantly Armenian population of Karabakh to express his desire to secede from Azerbaijan.

M.Warlick, Russian Igor Popov and Jacques Faure French reaffirmed this peace formula in their joint statement issued a week before. Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian reaffirmed its side as it was generally acceptable for Armenia. The unrecognized Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh is more reserved on this formula. Bako Sahakian, the president of Nagorno-Karabakh, said he had expressed his objections during his meeting with mediators May 18 Mr. Sahakian allegedly told that “backsliding Karabakh, whether in terms of status or borders is impossible.”

Mediators visited Karabakh through their last tour to revive the peace process still deadlocked. They met with the President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Edward Nalbandian and the Defence Seyran Ohanian during their visit to Yerevan on May 16 Diplomats visited Baku on Monday 19 May, crossing one of the most dangerous sections of the “line of contact” between the Azerbaijani and Armenian forces around Karabakh. They were able to verify compliance with the cease-fire, whose 20th anniversary is marked on May 12 scheme, before going into Azerbaijani territory.