AZERBAIJAN DETERMINED TO CONTINUE TALKS ON SETTLEMENT OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT: FOREIGN MINISTRY
TREND News Agency
Nov 3 2008
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan, Baku, 3 November/ TrendNews, corr I. Alizade/ The official
Baku says joint declaration by the Azerbaijani, Armenian and Russian
Presidents on the settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is very
significant and reflects all aspects of talks.
"There is no need to look for something new in signing of the
document. The talks still continue and the document indicates their
significance. Foundation is needed to be laid to shift to next stage,"
Khazar Ibrahim, spokesman for the Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan said
to journalists.
Presidents of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Russia Ilham Aliyev, Serj
Sarkisyan and Dmitry Medvedev signed a declaration at the end of
their meeting in Main Dorf castle near Moscow on 2 November.
"Oral statements are usually followed by the signing of a document. It
was necessary to sign the document. Azerbaijan is determined to
continue talks. The next stages of the talks are not known yet,"
Ibrahim said.
During his visit to Armenia, the Russian President proposed Azerbaijani
and Armenian Presidents to meet in Moscow.
Kremlin says that the principal position of Russia on the settlement
of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is that Armenians and Azerbaijanis
should make the final decision about the status of disputed
territories. Moscow also supports the way of solution which suits
both parties and can secure settlement.
Presidents of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan decided to make joint
efforts to normalize the situation in Caucasus and requested
Foreign Ministers to make efforts to solve Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict. Presidents of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan who in
detail discussed current state and prospective of the settlement
of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict by political means, continuing direct
dialogue between Azerbaijan and Armenia through Russia, U.S. and
France’s mediation as co-chairmen of OSCE Minsk Group in a constructive
atmosphere, declared that they would contribute to normalizing the
situation in the South Caucasus and ensure establishment of stability
and security in the region by the settling the conflict by political
means," says the declaration signed at the end of trilateral meeting.
The declaration calls for the settlement of the conflict in line
with the principles and norms of international law and decisions
and documents adopted in this respect which will create favorable
conditions for economic development and comprehensive cooperation
in the region. Declaration was read out by Dmitry Medvedev after
negotiations.
The conflict between the two countries of the South Caucasus began in
1988 due to Armenian territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan
lost the Nagorno-Karabakh, except of Shusha and Khojali, in December
1991. In 1992-93, Armenian Armed Forces occupied Shusha, Khojali and
Nagorno-Karabakh’s seven surrounding regions. In 1994, Azerbaijan
and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement at which time the active
hostilities ended. The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group (Russia,
France, and the US) are currently holding peaceful, but fruitless
negotiations.