AZERBAIJAN MISREPRESENTS NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT, ARMENIAN DEPUTY FM STATES

news.am
March 15 2010
Armenia

Azerbaijan keeps on misrepresenting the essence and consequences
of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, as well as the Nagorno-Karabakh
peace process, RA Deputy Foreign Minister Shavarsh Kocharyan stated,
commenting on Azerbaijani FM Elmar Mammadyarov’s statements that Baku
is for a phased settlement of the conflict.

First, it has to be confirmed that only one document serves as a basis
for negotiations – the Madrid documents drafted in 2007. The mediators
regularly submit proposals, which, however, have not yet been agreed
on by the sides and cannot replace the Madrid document. If Azerbaijan
makes another attempt to reject the Madrid document, let them clearly
state their intention, Sh. Kocharyan said.

He pointed out the principles of the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process
agreed on by the parties, namely, people’s right to self-determination,
territorial integrity and nonuse of force. The consequences of
Azerbaijani aggression against Nagorno-Karabakh are impossible to
eliminate until an agreement on Nagorno-Karabakh’s status has been
reached, Sh. Kocharyan said. According to him, Azerbaijan must be ready
to withdraw troops from the occupied territories and ensure refugees’
return if that state really wants to eliminate the consequences of
its aggression.

He stressed that official Baku continues misinterpreting international
law, stating the need for the NKR people’s self-determination within
Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity. According to the U.N. Charter,
one of the four aims of the U.N. is people’s equality and respect for
the right to self-determination, whereas territorial integrity is
one of the principles for achieving this aim. Azerbaijan continues
acting both against UN’s aims and against the territorial integrity
of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR), which, in turn, is a major
impediment to progress in the negotiations.

On March 15, Elmar Mammadyarov stated that Azerbaijan is for a phased
settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, as "it is aware that all
the problems are impossible to resolve in a day." According to him,
the stages are reflected in the Madrid document. "At the first stage
the Armenian side must withdraw its troops from five regions. After
withdrawing the troops, the Armenian side must restore all the
communications."