Nizami Bahmanov, the head of the Azerbaijani community of Nagorno-Karabakh, said, I do not accept seriously a statement by Armenian president Robert Kocharian on de-jure recognition of the separatist regime of Nagorno-Karabakh. It was a next step for self-presentation.
According to Bahmanov, the Armenian president is again in his role. Azerbaijani officials stated their opinions on Kocharians statements. The Armenian President knows very well Azerbaijans firm position and understands very well that Azerbaijan will never make such compromises in the issue of territorial integrity, he stressed. Azerbaijani President has numerously stated that the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan cannot be a topic of discussions. At the same time Kocharian has repeatedly stated that he recognizes de-jure the separatist regime of Nagorno-Karabakh. Such a step will not lead to achievement of progress in the talks, he warned. It will mean the commencement of war in the region.
Bakus position is that unless the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan is restored through peaceable talks, it will be achieved in other ways. Azerbaijan is a country imposed to occupation, 20% of its lands are under the control of Armenian armed forces.