Earlier today, after meeting with his Swedish counterpart Carl Bildt, RA Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian fielded questions from reporters here in Yerevan.

When asked about a statement made by Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan, made after his recent meeting with Minsk Group Co-Chairs, to the effect that there could be no settlement of the "Karabakh issue" without the direct participation of the Artsakh government, FM Nalbandian noted that he is in full agreement with President Sahakyan and that current negotiations couldn't enter the second stage without Artsakh's acceptance of the "Basic Principles" package.

"Artsakh must be fully engaged in this process," FM Nalbandian declared.

He added that that at the foundation of a peaceful settlement is the right of the people of Artsakh to master their own destiny.

FM Nalbandian also predicted that there was a possibility for positive advancement at the upcoming meeting of the Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents in Kazan if the positive intentions forged at the tripartite Moscow summit were upheld.