Question: Mr. Kocharyan, taking into consideration the April aggression of Azerbaijan against Nagorno-Karabakh, how would you comment on the 22nd anniversary of ceasefire agreement signed between Nagorno-Karabakh, Armenia and Azerbaijan on May 12, 1994?

Shavarsh Kocharyan: First, we should outline that the signing of the agreement on cessation of hostilities and military actions on May 12, 1994 between Nagorno-Karabakh, Armenia and Azerbaijan, which has no time limitations, became possible as the leadership of Azerbaijan initiated direct negotiations with the leadership of Nagorno-Karabakh. This proves that progress in the conflict resolution is possible only in case of Nagorno-Karabakh's full participation in the negotiation process.

We should also outline that the maintenance of 1994 ceasefire is an international commitment of the sides, and resumption of military actions against Nagorno-Karabakh by Azerbaijan on April 2-5 is the gross violation of that commitment, as well, and an explicit demonstration of aggression.

Azerbaijan's April aggression proved to everyone that during the last 22 years Baku used the negotiation process as a smokescreen to arm and resolve the issue through military means, which has been the main reason behind the maintenance of the status-quo in the conflict zone.

The calls of the Minsk Group Co-Chair countries to strictly preserve and consolidate the ceasefire established by the 1994 trilateral agreement as a basis for peaceful negotiations are quite understandable.