Azerbaijan Sets Obstacles On The Way To Karabakh Conflict Settlement

AZERBAIJAN SETS OBSTACLES ON THE WAY TO KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT

PanARMENIAN.Net
16.02.2010 21:06 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Statements, as well as those who issue them, are of
no importance; what matters is the decision- making party. NKR people
are the decision-making party in Karabakh issue, Armenian Foreign
Minister Edward Nalbandian said, commenting on the statement of his
Azeri counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov, according to whom "the important
condition of conflict settlement is the issue of "occupied territories"
and Azeri refugees’ return to their homes". As RA Foreign Minister
noted, some details of that condition were stipulated in Madrid
Principles, published after presidents of Russia, US and France made
their statements in Acqueville.

"Azerbaijan’s being opposed to this position means it actually sets
obstacles on the way to Karabakh conflict settlement," Nalbandian said,
adding that Baku hinders the settlement process by speaking against
Karabakh’s involvement in negotiations. "No progress is possible
without NKR’s participation in talks," he emphasized.

"As for elimination of the consequences of conflict, issues with
Martakert, Martuni and Shahumyan, occupied by Azerbaijan, have to
be resolved and refugees’ return taken care of," Nalbandian noted,
adding that consequences of Karabakh conflict have to be eliminated
along with conflict causes.

In conclusion, Edward Nalbandian stressed that conflict should be
resolved peacefully, by means of negotiations.

The conflict between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan broke out in
1988, as result of the ethnic cleansing the latter launched in the
final years of the Soviet Union. The Karabakh War was fought from
1991 (when the Nagorno Karabakh Republic was proclaimed) to 1994
(when a ceasefire was sealed by Armenia, NKR and Azerbaijan). Most
of Nagorno Karabakh and a security zone consisting of 7 regions is
now under control of NKR defense army. Armenia and Azerbaijan are
holding peace talks mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group up till now.

The Madrid principles contain the proposals put forward by the OSCE
Minsk Group co-chairs on the basic principles of the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict settlement. The document was submitted to the Armenian and
Azerbaijani representatives at the OSCE summit in the Spanish capital
in November 2007.