AZERBAIJANI MPS, PUBLIC FIGURES COMMENT ON OSCE MG CO-CHAIRS’ INTENTION TO PREPARE UPDATED VERSION OF MADRID PRINCIPLES – SURVEY

Today.Az
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22 July 2009 [17:19]

Azerbaijani members of parliament and public and political figures
commented on OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs’ intentions to prepare updated
version of the Madrid Principles.

The OSCE MG co-chairs said in a statement that they will hold a
working session in Krakow in late July to prepare updated version
of the Madrid document in accordance with the joint statement made
by the OSCE MG co-chair countries’ heads in L’Aquila.

Political expert Vafa Guluzade:

Azerbaijan did not accept the Madrid Principles and any updated version
of giving Azerbaijani lands to Armenia via referendum is unacceptable
for Azerbaijan. I think the weather in fine in Krakow. He Co-Chairs
will go there just to walk and relax. And as a result, they will
issue another still-born document which will not be accepted.

Member of parliament Fazil Mustafa:

I believe that the new changes like the last statement issued in
Italy by heads of the co-chairs of OSCE Minsk Group will be only
slightly different from past principles. But the essence of the
Madrid principles remains the same. Here we do not expect anything
good for Azerbaijan. I think that Azerbaijan can solve the conflict
only by its power. We need to consolidate all walks of life around the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict so that not only to policy and government,
but the whole society will be involved in the conflict resolution.

Member of parliament Nasib Nasibli:

I think the co-chairs of OSCE Minsk Group is not able to positively
influence the resolution of the Karabakh problem. How much can you
deceive the people? They organize meetings, travel to the region,
promise advances, make some updates, but in the end, everything
remains unchanged. It is just empty words and the delay of time. I
do not believe them.

Political expert Leyla Aliyeva:

Given that the information in this regard is limited, it is difficult
for me to say anything. With regard to the fact what will updated
versions of the Madrid principles will contain and how they will affect
future settlement of the conflict, it is possible to expect everything.

Member of parliament Igbal Agazade:

I think Madrid Principles do not meet the national interests
of Azerbaijan, especially the item which says that the status of
Nagorno Karabakh will be decided by referendum. This version of the
Madrid principles and those that will be offered will not be able to
positively influence the settlement of the conflict.

Political expert Fikrat Sadigov:

Co-Chairs have made statements in large numbers so far. Sometimes the
statements even contradicted each other. The facts that heads of the
co-chairs countries made statement in Italy to accelerate conflict
resolution process and the Madrid principles were made public are
positive.

But Azerbaijan is not satisfied with all items on the updated
principles. Moreover, we expected that after such statements the Moscow
meeting of presidents would mark a real progress in resolving the
conflict. But unconstructive position of Armenia undermined everything.

Regarding the new updates, I simply can not imagine what news updates
will include. If they will be updated for a final solution to the
Nagorno Karabakh problem and the liberation of Azerbaijani lands, it
does not matter let it be Kracow or Madrid principles. But if these
principles are taken into account satisfaction of the Armenian side,
Azerbaijan would not tolerate it. For Azerbaijan the main thing is
the return of our lands and the return to the refugees to their homes.