AZERBAIJAN WELCOMES OSCE WISH TO STEP UP NEGOTIATIONS

armradio.am
02.12.2009 11:46

Commenting on the joint statement of the Heads of Delegation of the
OSCE Minsk Group, Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Sergei
Lavrov, Foreign Minister of France Bernard Kouchner, and Deputy
Secretary of State of the United States James Steinberg, Armenian
Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian characterized the reference to
the principles of the Helsinki Final Act as one of the greatest
achievements of Armenian diplomacy.

Nalbandian said that it was the first time that the OSCE Ministerial
Council had adopted a written statement pointing out the need to
observe the following three principles of international law: the
non-use of force, the right of a nation to self-determination and
territorial integrity. Nalbandian hoped that the foreign ministers
of the 56 OSCE member states would make a statement confirming the
above-mentioned principles.

"When we come to an agreement on the Madrid Principles, negotiations
on drawing up an agreement will start, and Nagorno-Karabakh should by
all means participate in the negotiations," Armenian Foreign Minister
Edward Nalbandian told journalists in Athens.

"Agreement on the basic principles will pave the way for the signing
of a peace agreement. This can be seen from the statement of the
foreign ministers of the co-chair countries. I assess the meeting
this way. There is a wish to intensify the negotiations and it has
to be welcomed," Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov told
journalists in Athens.

He said a rapprochement in positions is needed for agreement to be
reached on the basic principles. The minister said this would pave
the way to the signing of a comprehensive peace agreement.