MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
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PRESS AND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
Government House # 2, Republic Square
Yerevan 0010, Republic of Armenia
Telephone: +37410. 544041 ext 202
Fax: +37410. 562543
Email: [email protected]
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PRESS RELEASE
26-06-2006
Statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Taking into account the statement that the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group
presented to the OSCE Permanent Council, in Vienna, on June 22, and the
interview that Matt Bryza, the new US co-chair gave soon thereafter, where
albeit partially, the principles of the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict were revealed for the first time, and also taking into account the
recent desperate calls by Azerbaijan for a military solution and autonomy
for Nagorno Karabakh, we would like to make several observations.
1. The co-chairs have partially revealed the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
resolution principles; they have left out references to a corridor linking
Nagorno Karabakh to Armenia, and issues relating to Nagorno Karabakh¹s
interim status until a referendum;
2. The co-chairs have, for the first time, affirmed that the people of
Nagorno Karabakh shall determine their own future status through a
referendum;
3. Those items over which the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan continue
to disagree does not include a referendum; that concept has been agreed to
by the presidents; The area of disagreement between the presidents has to do
with the sequence in which the consequences of the military conflict are
removed;
4. In an attempt to resolve this remaining area of disagreement, a proposal
was made by the co-chairs after Rambouillet. This proposal was accepted by
Armenia in Bucharest. Azerbaijan rejected it;
5. Armenia finds that the basic principles, overall, on the table today
remain a serious basis for continuing negotiations; Armenia is prepared to
continue on that basis to negotiate with Azerbaijan;
6. Armenia believes that Azerbaijan¹s wavering on these principles is a
serious obstacle to progress in the negotiations. If this policy continues,
Armenia will insist that Azerbaijan conduct direct negotiations with Nagorno
Karabakh;
7. Finally, we would remind Azerbaijan once again that regardless of the
size of their military budget, they cannot force the people of Nagorno
Karabakh to renounce freedom and the right to self-determination.