AZERBAIJANI FOREIGN MINISTRY: MOSCOW DECLARATION DOES NOT CONTRADICT THE PRINCIPLES WE HAVE UNDERLINED REPEATEDLY
Azeri Press Agency
Nov 3 2008
Azerbaijan
Baku. Lachin Sultanova-APA. "Moscow Declaration signed by Azerbaijani
and Armenian Presidents is a productive document and envisages factors
and essence of negotiations conducted by now", Khazar Ibrahim,
Spokesman for Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry told journalists, APA
reports.
Asked what reason made them sign the document, Ibrahim noted that
the document ensured the new level on negotiations process for the
settlement of the conflict.
"There should be written document after oral statements made by now",
he said.
Asked whether the document will deprive Azerbaijan of rights on
military solution to the conflict, the diplomat stated that the
document aimed to demonstrate political solution to the conflict.
"Of course, political settlement of the conflict should be based
on proper principles. The declaration does not envisage any article
against the principles we have underlined repeatedly," he said.
Asked which principle was taken into consideration basing on norms and
principles of the international law in the document, the Spokesman
noted that territorial integrity was the main principle of the
declaration.
"Helsinki final act also covers people’s right to self-determination,
but this right can also be ensured within the framework of territorial
integrity. We do not deny any principle of the international law and
could not do it. But in the international documents and international
law the principle of territorial integrity has a privilege over the
right to self-determination," he said.
Taking a stance on the reports that the release of five regions around
Nagorno Karabakh and deployment of Russian peacekeeping forces in the
territory had been discussed during the negotiations, Khazar Ibrahim
said those themes were not the basic content of the negotiations.
"International guarantees should be given by stages. These stages
should consist of the withdrawal of troops and return of IDPs to
their native lands," he said.
Touching on the reports that referendum would be held to determine
Nagorno Karabakh’s status, the diplomat said Azerbaijani community
should first of all return to Nagorno Karabakh, the issue on the status
could be solved later within the framework of Azerbaijani borders. As
regards the point of the declaration on establishing confidence between
the parties, Khazar Ibrahim considers that in order to establish
mutual confidence, internally displaced persons should return home.
"Confidence can only be between the communities. If there is no
communication between them, any other mechanisms are in vain," the
spokesman said.
Touching on the urgency of Turkey’s regional initiative after signing
Moscow Declaration, the spokesman for Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry
said Turkey’s initiative should not be confused with this document.
"Turkey’s initiative is about security and stability in the South
Caucasus. The declaration is connected with only Armenia-Azerbaijan
conflict," the spokesman said.