BASIC PRINCIPLES FOR SETTLEMENT OF THE NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT RELEASED

ArmInfo
2009-07-13 13:08:00

Presidents of OSCE MG co-chair-countries Barack Obama, Dmitry Medvedev
and Nicola Sarkozy released a joint statement on the Nagorno- Karabakh
Conflict at the L’Aquila Summit of the Eight, July 10, 2009.

‘We, the Presidents of the OSCE Minsk Group’s Co-Chair countries
France, the Russian Federation, and the United States of America affirm
our commitment to support the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan as they
finalize the Basic Principles for settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict.

We are instructing our mediators to present to the Presidents of
Armenia and Azerbaijan an updated version of the Madrid Document
of November 2007, the Co-Chairs last articulation of the Basic
Principles. We urge the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan to
resolve the few differences remaining between them and finalize
their agreement on these Basic Principles, which will outline a
comprehensive settlement’, the French, Russian and American presidents’
joint statement says.

According to the statement, the Basic Principles reflect a
reasonable compromise based on the Helsinki Final Act principles of
Non-Use of Force, Territorial Integrity, and the Equal Rights and
Self-Determination of Peoples.

The Basic Principles include, in particular: return of the territories
surrounding Nagorno- Karabakh to Azerbaijani control; an interim
status for Nagorno-Karabakh providing guarantees for security and
self-governance; a corridor linking Armenia to Nagorno- Karabakh;
future determination of the final legal status of Nagorno-Karabakh
through a legally binding expression of will; the right of all
internally displaced persons and refugees to return to their former
places of residence; and international security guarantees that would
include a peacekeeping operation.

The endorsement of these Basic Principles by Armenia and Azerbaijan
will allow the drafting of a comprehensive settlement to ensure a
future of peace, stability, and prosperity for Armenia and Azerbaijan
and the broader region.