AZERBAIJAN SHOULD SET TIME LIMIT FOR SETTLEMENT OF KARABAKH CONFLICT: MP

Today
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Nov 16 2009
Azerbaijan

"Azerbaijan should recover the Armenia-occupied lands as a first step
and then determine status of Karabakh," member of Azerbaijani Milli
Majlis (parliament) Jamil Hasanli said.

Intensification of negotiations is not due to the activities of the
OSCE Minsk Group. The Minks Group aims to maintain status-quo and
make Azerbaijan reconcile with it, the MP said.

"If to look closely at this situation, we can see a purposeful
demonstration Azerbaijan’s will in the Karabakh issue. Turkey has
also recently intensified efforts in the region. Finally, after the
war in Georgia in August 2008, the Western countries understood how
dangerous are the frozen conflicts in the Caucasus. Intensification
of the negotiations on the Karabakh issue is due to these factors,"
Hasanli said.

"The fact that Azerbaijan solves the Karabakh issue through peaceful
means in international organizations does not mean that we accept the
current status-quo forever. The current situation is good for Armenia.

Therefore, Azerbaijan should recover the Armenia-occupied territories
as a first step and then determine the status of Karabakh. Currently,
Armenia is engaged in outrageous policy of bargaining occupied areas
around the former Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region in exchange for
recognition of the status of Karabakh," he added.

Azerbaijani MP also commented on a statement by Special Representative
for the Caucasus Peter Semneby who said that the current status-quo
in the Karabakh issue is not favorable for Armenia.

"Semneby possiblly meant that the Karabakh problem adversely affects
international image of Armenia. I think the main mistake of the West
and MG is that they equalize an occupier country and a country which
is a victim of occupation,’ Hasanli said.