AZERBAIJANI FOREIGN MINISTER: "THERE ARE SEVERAL NEW FACTORS IN THE POSITION OF NEW ARMENIAN AUTHORITIES"
Azeri Press Agency
June 10 2008
Azerbaijan
Baku. Tamara Grigoryeva-APA. "The conflict parties are coordinated
to conduct negotiations at St. Petersburg meeting of familiarization
character. Co-chairs should visit the region and have meetings in
both countries.
The positions of the parties should be coordinated basing on current
proposals", Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said,
APA reports.
He noted that 40-45-minute meeting was held between Foreign
Ministries of the two countries before St. Petersburg meeting of the
Presidents. The Minister added that the co-chairs needed time for
coordination of positions of the parties and stressed that there were
new factors in the position of new Armenian authorities.
"Though position of new Armenian authorities does not differ from the
previous one, there are new nuances. We are working on the proposals
presented in Madrid. There are several uncoordinated factors in these
proposals. These factors are of principal character. The co-chairs
have discussed several factors with the opposite side and we expect
whether their positions will be coordinated or not. Time is needed
for it", he said.
To him, the current situation cannot last eternally. Time is needed
for the solution to the conflict.
"Azerbaijan wants solution to the conflict within a short time. I
say to my Armenian counterpart that you cannot escape occupying our
lands, you should pursue neighborhood policy and it coincides with
your interests. I want to believe that if Armenia understands it,
we will achieve peace and stability soon.
This conflict is at odds with the Armenia’s national
interests". Mammadyarov announced the compromise steps Azerbaijan
could make for the solution of the conflict. "Azerbaijan makes
compromise advocating of the peace. Secondly, we agree to hold
discussions over the Nagorno Karabakh’s status. The status issue
will be discussed when it reaches the phase of serious dialogue. We
support the status of Nagorno Karabakh only within the territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan. In this regard we are ready to continue
the negotiations. I repeatedly told the Armenian side to work on
the models of all autonomies in the world. If you prefer we can
take the model of Tataristan. Armenian troops should be withdrawn
from Karabakh, displaced persons should return home and stability,
economic development and communication should be provided at first for
the solution of the conflict. Only after that we can proceed to status
discussions". Saying that the negotiation process should be developed
within the OSCE Minsk Group, the minister emphasized importance of
the sustainable international attention to the conflict. "Therefore
Azerbaijan is always raising the Nagorno Karabakh issue in UN, Council
of Europe, Organization of Islamic Conference and other organizations
and will do it further. We can not agree with the secret discussions
on the issue. The international community should be informed about
the going on process. If there will be significant progress in the
negotiations we can move to any format".
Mammadyarov noted that Armenians living in Nagorno Karabakh are
the citizens of Azerbaijan and said that the occupied territories,
including Nagorno Karabakh also had to take their parts of the
development of Azerbaijan. "Armenians living there can also take
advantages from the economic development in the country as the citizens
of Azerbaijan".