Former Armenian Minister Calls Proposed Karabakh Deal ‘Unacceptable’

YEREVAN -- Former Armenian Foreign Minister Aleksandr Arzumanian says the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement proposed by international mediators is "unacceptable" for the Armenian side, RFE/RL's Armenian Service reports.

Arzumanian, a leading member of the opposition Armenian National Congress, said several settlement principles "do not meet the national interests of Armenia." He added that the country should be wary of agreeing to a "dangerous" interim status giving Nagorno-Karabakh "self-governance within the unitary Azerbaijani state."

Six of the settlement's 12 principles were unveiled by the United States, Russia, and France at the G8 summit in Italy earlier this month.

Arzumanian said the territory's final legal status -- which the agreement says will be made "through a legally binding expression of will" -- is questionable.

"If a term weaker than [the internationally accepted term] referendum is used, it means there is no agreement on a referendum,” Arzumanian said.