OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS TO PRESENT NEW PROPOSALS DURING NEXT TRIP TO REGION: AZERBAIJANI DEPUTY FM

Today.Az
07 December 2009 [13:07]

"If the progress in the Nagorno-Karabakh negotiations were an easy
work, it would have been reached long ago."

"The basic principles are discussed by the presidents, but not
foreign ministers at current stage. The foreign ministers are only
doing preparation work for the negotiations," the Azerbaijani Deputy
Foreign Minister Araz Azimov said.

"The OSCE Minsk Group is expected to visit the region in near future
and present new proposals to the sides," Azimov told reporters.

He said elaboration of the new proposals for the conflict settlement
was a progress in a certain sense.

"The negotiations over the settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
are going on for a long time. If the progress were an easy work,
it would have been reached long time ago."

Touching upon the dynamics in the Azerbaijan-Armenian negotiations
Azimov said the presidents met for several times a year.

"I think this is dynamics and sustainability of the meetings enables
to say that this is useful process. But the opposite side should know
that Azerbaijan is against gaining time and wants effective approach
towards the discussions," Azimov added.

In response to a question about new proposals to be presented
by con-chairs during their next visit to the region, Azimov said
"the steps taken are obvious, but these steps have a principle of
consistency."

"The people expelled from their homeland should return, the
communications should be restored and the lands should be liberated.

The cooperation can not be established before the return of population
to their homeland. If there is no cooperation, there is no peace as
well. No any status issue could be discussed if there is no peace,"
the deputy foreign minister noted.