Former President Serzh Sargsyan Dismisses Azerbaijan's Proposal for Bilateral Talks

Serzh Sargsyan, the former President of Armenia, openly dismissed Azerbaijan's proposal for bilateral negotiations, stating that such talks cannot be accepted due to concerns about their effectiveness and outcomes. Sargsyan shared his views with reporters outside a Yerevan court on Friday, emphasizing the necessity of guarantees from powerful countries to secure the results of any negotiations.

"I do not believe that Armenia has accepted Azerbaijan's proposal for bilateral negotiations. The recent statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was somewhat ambiguous; they neither explicitly said 'we accept' nor 'we don't accept' because they need time to consider it," remarked Sargsyan.

Sargsyan highlighted the need for negotiations to be backed by a powerful third-party guarantee to ensure the fulfillment of agreements reached. Reflecting on past negotiations, he alluded to the current Armenian leadership's approach, suggesting that the focus should not be solely on the personalities involved but rather on securing concrete guarantees.

"The issue is not about whether the negotiator across the table is agreeable or not. What truly matters is that the results of those negotiations must be underwritten by a powerful external force. Without such guarantees, any agreement risks being breached by either party," Sargsyan explained.

He referenced the historic involvement of influential countries in negotiations concerning the Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) issue, underscoring the importance of powerful nations overseeing these talks. Sargsyan reiterated his conviction that bilateral negotiations with Azerbaijan would likely reach an impasse, warning of potential concessions that might not secure a promising future for Armenia.

"It is no coincidence that during our negotiations on the Artsakh issue, three powerful countries served as co-chairs. I firmly believe that bilateral negotiations with Azerbaijan will likely lead to a dead end. If they do occur, they might result in significant concessions for us without any assurances for our future," concluded the former Armenian president.

Sargsyan's statements reflect a cautious stance on Azerbaijan's proposal, emphasizing the need for robust external guarantees to safeguard the outcomes of negotiations, echoing concerns about the potential ramifications of bilateral talks without substantial assurances for Armenia's future.