KARABAKH TALKS STILL BASED ON MADRID PRINCIPLES

news.az
March 1 2010
Azerbaijan

Ali Hasanov The Karabakh talks process is based on the Madrid
principles for a conflict settlement and the parties are coordinating
their positions.

This is what Ali Hasanov, head of the public policy department at
Azerbaijan’s Presidential Administration, told reporters today.

There is no need to comment on the statement by Azerbaijan’s defence
minister, Safar Abiyev, because he is well aware of the responsibility
of his remarks, Hasanov said.

He was commenting on remarks made on Thursday by Safar Abiyev that war
is inevitable if Armenia does not withdraw from occupied Azerbaijani
land.

"The head of state has repeatedly said that the overall potential
of the Karabakh settlement within the framework of Azerbaijan’s
territorial integrity has not been exhausted and he is continuing
to take part in the negotiation process. But when Azerbaijan feels
that the potential is exhausted, official Baku will take all steps
to restore the violated rights, sovereignty and territorial integrity
of the country."

The Madrid principles include the return of the territories surrounding
Nagorno-Karabakh to Azerbaijani control, an interim status for Karabakh
providing guarantees for security and self-governance, and the future
determination of the final legal status of Nagorno-Karabakh through
a legally binding expression of will.