Baku supports inclusion of Europeans and Americans into peacekeeping
forces in Karabakh

2009-08-15 14:05:00

ArmInfo-Turan. There are still certain differences in the concepts of
the Armenian and Azerbaijani sides regarding settlement of the Karabakh
conflict, Turan was told in the exclusive interview by the head of
International Relations Department of the President’s Administration,
Novruz Mamedov.

Azerbaijan’s position remains the same – stage-by-stage liberation of
the occupied territories around Karabakh, and return of the displaced
people to their native places. During the transition Lachin and
Kelbajar regions must be liberated, and a corridor between Karabakh and
Armenia must be created. These processes must be accompanied by
cleaning the territories from mines and restoration work. It can take
from 5 to 10 years.

"Then the displaced people must return to Karabakh, and it is necessary
to deploy peacekeeping forces. After the return of 60,000 Azerbaijanis
there and the restoration of the situation the legal status of Karabakh
can be developed only in the frames of Azerbaijan’s territorial
integrity. It can take up to 10 years," Mamedov said. He said it is
early to speak about the exact time now, because it is not known how
the processes will develop. The return of only seven regions around
Karabakh will cause the return of 760,000 people. "All the houses,
industrial and social infrastructures have been destroyed there.
Several years will take to clean the territories from mines, and the
whole process can take 15-20 years," Mamedov said.

Not going into details of the renewed Madrid Principles, he said that
they are about development of Karabakh’s status, i.e. who and when will
take the decision, the question of peacekeeping forces, their structure
and location and the question connected with the corridor.

He agreed with the Cochairmen that the sides are close to an agreement,
but even a small detail can influence the settlement. "Of course
Armenia wants the resolution of the legal status at the first stage,
but the Cochairmen agreed that all the seven regions around Karabakh
must be returned," Mammadov said.

Azerbaijan does not want militarists from the neighbor countries in the
peacekeeping forces. It would be better if the peacekeeping forces were
organized from representatives of the Armed Forces of European states
and the USA," Mammadov said. Concerning the location of these forces,
he said that it would be better to place them on the line of touch
between Karabakh and the nearby regions.

The status of Karabakh must be determined on the basis of Azerbaijan’s
Constitution. It will be determined at the last stage, so nothing can
be said now," Mammadov said. In case of successful
development of the peaceful process the communication will be opened;
then will come the question of opening the motorways. "I think Armenia
is first of all interested in opening the railways, because it caused
the blockade itself," Mammadov said.