PanArmenian News
Feb 14 2005
IF ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN COULD COME TO AGREEMENT ON KARABAKH
CONFLICT THEY WOULD HAVE DONE IT LONG BEFORE
14.02.2005 13:18
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Azerbaijan is viewing the Minsk Group as a single
whole and would not like to draw a distinction between the
Co-Chairs”, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev stated in his
interview with Nezavisimaya Gazeta Russian newspaper. However Russia
is the only chair-state bordering with Azerbaijan and is a power of
our region. Surely, this circumstance increases her responsibility
for the Karabakh conflict settlement, he stated. “We think that the
activities of the Minsk Group should not proceed from the principle:
“you will come to agreement and we will confirm”. “If we could come
to an agreement, we would have done it long before. The Minsk Group
was formed because the conflicting parties could not arrive at an
agreement themselves. That is why we hold the opinion that the MG
activity should be directed at the asserting of principles and norms
of the jus gentium according to which the territorial integrity of
any state is inviolable. Azerbaijan did not violate the territorial
integrity of any country while our own territorial integrity was
violated. This fact was recorded in some document of the leading
international institutions, in part, in the resolution by the Council
of Europe”, Azeri President said. In his words, official Baku sees
the settlement of the conflict in thew following way: Azerbaijan’s
territorial integrity should be restored, Armenian forces should
leave the Azeri territories, and the refugees should return their
homes. Then peace will be established”. According to him, this
approach becomes more and more acceptable for the international
community and the latest activation of the OSCE Minsk Group may be
efficient.