PRESSURES ON ARMENIA HAVE INCREASED MUCH IN TERMS OF THE SETTLEMENT OF NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT: SENIOR OFFICIAL

Today.Az
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Aug 4 2009
Azerbaijan

The main parties in the settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict are
Azerbaijan and Armenia, Chief of International Affairs Department of
Azerbaijani President’s Administration Novruz Mammadov said.

"Azerbaijan’s position is known to the entire world. The conflict
should be solved within Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity. But
Azerbaijan wants to solve it through negotiations and in a peaceful
way. The question is "What will Armenia’s position be?" Armenia impedes
the solution of the conflict by frequently changing its position,"
Mammadov said.

" In this respect, I think if Armenia, like Azerbaijan, demonstrates
will and does its best for the peaceful solution to the conflict,
the conflict will be solved irrespective of the co-chairs."

"Each of the co-chairs represent one country, they simply try to
simplify the settlement of the conflict. Of course, the co-chairs
have worked for certain time, have experience in this field, deal
with the problem. I think they will continue working till the end of
this year. But if both parties demonstrate will, especially if Armenia
has constructive position, the problem may be solved," he added.

"The recent processes make the settlement of the conflict
necessary. Pressures on Armenia have increased. Armenia-Turkey
issues, recent process of negotiations, the increase of the
co-chairing countries’ interest in the settlement of the conflict,
Azerbaijani president’s recent steps, joint statement issued in
Italy by the presidents of the US, Russia and France, the opinion of
the U.S. Department of State on the Madrid principles and Russia’s
activeness in this issue increase pressure on Armenia."

"On the other hand, if we take into account the global financial
crisis, this leaves Armenia in a difficult condition. Armenian
authorities should understand that they have no alternative way
to the settlement of the conflict. Despite this, they have become
prisoners of their ideas, they still hesitate in taking serious steps
concerning the solution of the conflict. But now the negotiations are
on active phase and very likely a step will be taken forward in one
of the forthcoming meetings.In this respect, we should wait for the
co-chairs’ visit to Azerbaijan. What will they suggest basing on the
Madrid principles? Only after that something concrete may be said,"
Mammadov said.