YEREVAN, JUNE 16, ARMENPRESS. The ongoing severe blockade of Artsakh, the growing threats of the use of force and ethnic cleansing, as well as holding of the 120,000 population of Artsakh in a hostage situation damage the prospect of starting a genuine dialogue to discuss ways of a political settlement of the Azerbaijan-Karabakh conflict, the Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) foreign ministry said in a statement.