Arkadii Ghukasian, president of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, told the Armenian television program Haylur on 8 November that the Karabakh authorities \"are ready to negotiate with Azerbaijan in any format, with or without Armenia,\" according to Armenian Public Television as cited by Groong. \"We are ready to discuss with Azerbaijan any issues, starting with the status of refugees [from Nagorno-Karabakh] and the territories [surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh that are currently controlled by the Karabakh armed forces],\" Ghukasian continued. But he pointed out that \"Azerbaijan is not ready today to negotiate with Karabakh, and in fact Azerbaijan\'s current position is an ultimatum.\" Azerbaijani leaders have consistently argued that Azerbaijan is at war with Armenia and can negotiate only with Armenian officials on the terms of a conflict settlement. (RFE/RL)