AZERBAIJAN SEES THREE STAGES IN KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT
news.az
Nov 11 2009
Azerbaijan
Elmar Mammadyarov Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov told journalists
in Baku today that Azerbaijan "sees three stages in the Karabakh
conflict settlement".
The first stage is the withdrawal of Armenian troops from Karabakh
with subsequent mine clearance. The second stage is the restoration
of infrastructure, the resolution of socio-economic problems and the
third – the return of all refugees to their native lands. Only after
that will it be possible to speak about the status of Nagorno Karabakh,
Mammadyarov said.
During the three stages, the Azerbaijani and Armenian communities
of Nagorno-Karabakh will discuss the future status of this region
together.
"I would like to repeat that the issue of status can be settled
only within the framework of territorial integrity. Similar models
of resolving status have been used in Tatarstan, Bashkortostan and
most countries, including in Europe."
Mammadyarov hoped that Armenia will take a constructive position at
the upcoming talks which will help to bring closer the final stage
of resolution of the Karabakh conflict.
The foreign ministries of Azerbaijan and Armenia will continue
consultations on 1-2 December in Athens, which is hosting the OSCE
foreign ministers’ meeting. The ministries will discuss the outcome
of the meeting of Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents which is due
to be held in late November, Mammadyarov said.