Armenian deputy foreign minister: Karabakh dialogue with Baku is crucial

Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Paruyr Hovhannissyan said on Wednesday that the ethnic Armenians of Azerbaijan's Nagorno-Karabakh region could theoretically live under Azerbaijani rule, but that dialogue was crucial.

In an interview with Reuters after a 24-hour Azerbaijani offensive overwhelmed the separatists and secured their agreement to disarm, he said Armenia understood that Karabakh's Armenians were open to talks with Baku. Armenia has complained loudly in recent months that its main ally and protector, Russia, has not done enough to protect the Karabakh Armenians against growing pressure from Baku.

Hovhannissyan said Armenia had specific security agreements with Russia that were applicable to such situations. (Reprting by Felix Light; Writing by Kevin Liffey and Jon Boyle)

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