Azeri official critical of mediators’ call for compromise on Karabakh

Trend news agency
19 Apr 05

Baku, 19 April: Baku has its own perception of the calls for a
compromise in the statements of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen
addressed to the Azerbaijani and Armenian people, the head of
the foreign relations department of the Azerbaijani presidential
administration, Novruz Mammadov, has said. In his view, such
statements run counter to the mission and powers of the mediators in
the Karabakh talks.

“We do not have to do what the mediators say. They are only mediators
in settling the conflict and should do their job. We do not need
their statements addressed to both nations,” Mammadov said. In his
opinion, the co-chairmen should address this statement to the Armenian
leadership and people.

There can be no talk of fundamental concessions on the part of Baku,
Mammadov said.

“Our position is firm – Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity must be
ensured, the occupied districts must be liberated and refugees must
return to their native land. Should there be a concession within this
framework, Azerbaijan will consider that and take a decision,” he said.

Speaking on the process of resolution, Mammadov said that the talks
benefit Azerbaijan.

“In this way, Baku demonstrates diplomatic supremacy, whereas
Yerevan is unable to go beyond political atavism. Armenia is in a
tight corner. They cannot take a decision independently. For them the
situation will not become normal regardless of whether they conduct
negotiations or not,” he said.

Commenting on separate meetings between the foreign ministers of
Azerbaijan and Armenia and the Minsk Group co-chairmen, Mammadov said
that the format of the negotiations was not to be changed. If this
does happen, this will be an indicator of the mood of the Armenian
side, he said.

He also touched on the fate of an OSCE fact-finding mission’s report
on the settlement of Armenians in the occupied territories. He reckons
that the topic is open for discussion in the UN, and on the other hand,
repeat visits of the mission to the region are possible.