EDWARD NALBANDIAN: PROBLEM OF ELIMINATION OF CONFLICT CONSEQUENCES SHOULD BE SOLVED IN PARALLEL WITH CONFLICT CAUSES

NOYAN TAPAN
FEBRUARY 17, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 17, NOYAN TAPAN. Commenting on the February 15
statement of Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Mamedyarov who declared
that he sees the future status of Nagorno Karabakh as part of
Azerbaijan and that the main issue is solution of the problem of
"occupied territories" and the return of refugees to their homes,
Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian said:

"The important thing is not who sees and how he sees, but who decides.

The people of Nagorno Karabakh decides this issue. This is also clearly
stated in some parts of the Madrid document which was published in
L’Aquila immediately after the statement of the presidents of Russia,
the U.S. and France. If Azerbajian opposes this fundamental approach,
in fact it hinders the settlement process. It also hinders the
settlement by opposing Karabakh’s participation in the negotiations
because it is impossible to promote the settlement without Karabakh’s
direct participation".

As regards elimination of the consequences of the conflict, according
to E. Nalbandian, it is necessary to take into account that the issue
of territories in Martakert, Martuni and Shahumian regions occupied
by Azerbaijan and the return of refugees to these regions should be
solved as well. "And of course, the problem of elimination of the
conflict consequences should be solved in parallel with the causes of
the conflict. All these issues should be solved peacefully, through
negotiations and based on mutual agreement," the Armenian foreign
minister stated.