POLITICIANS AND MPS OF AZERBAIJAN MAKE DIFFERENT SUGGESTIONS ON WAYS OF SOLVING NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT

Trend
Aug 4 2009
Azerbaijan

Politicians and MPs of Azerbaijan made different suggestions on the
ways of solving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

The chairman of opposition Unified Azerbaijan Popular Front Party, MP
Gudrat Hasanguliyev, said that fair solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict through peaceful talks does not exist.

"No fact of occupation in the world found a fair solution in a
peaceful manner. Azerbaijan must itself liberate seven regions
around Nagorno-Karabakh, and then resume the negotiations. And
politicians should prepare nation for this," Hasanguliyev said at the
scientific-theoretical conference on "The role and tasks of political
parties and NGOs in solving the Karabakh conflict".

The MP said that the opposition parties, which undertook obligations
before the Council of Europe to resolve the conflict peacefully,
should abandon their signature.

"The reasons why they do not do it are clear. They think if they
withdraw signature, West will refuse cooperation," said Hasanguliyev.

Making a speech at the conference, chairman of opposition Adalat
Party, MP Ilyas Ismaylov said he did not see anything improper in
undertaking such an obligation. "Application of a peaceful path to
resolving conflicts is an international principle. But if the conflict
is able to be settled through refusal from signature, then I will do
it first," said Ismaylov.

Chairman of opposition Democratic Party Sardar Jalaloglu said that
the solution of the conflict must be made in a legal plane.

"Resolution of the conflict should be moved from political into legal
arena. International mediators do not participate permanently in any
of conflicts existing in the world. Mediators deal with only those
that delay the conflict, ensuring the interests of their countries,"
he said.

He stated that the government and opposition should take a unified
position on the issue of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Chairman of opposition Democratic Reforms Party, MP Asim Mollazade,
said that the facts of military crimes committed by Armenia
against Azerbaijan must be presented to the attention of the world
community. "Unfortunately, the world community is not completely aware
of these facts. Nagorno-Karabakh conflict should not be used by any
parties for their own purposes. This kind of national question should
not be used for public campaigns of political parties in the debate
with other parties," Mollazade said.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan
lost all of Nagorno-Karabakh except for Shusha and Khojali in December
1991. In 1992-93, Armenian armed forces occupied Shusha, Khojali and 7
districts surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh. Azerbaijan and Armenia signed
a ceasefire in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia,
France, and the U.S. – are currently holding the peace negotiations.