BAKU’S STATEMENTS ABOUT MADRID PRINCIPLES – SMOKE SCREEN: NALBANDIAN

news.am
March 18 2010
Armenia

Azerbaijan has not recognized Madrid Principles for long time and if
at last Baku took the documents as basis for negotiations we can only
welcome this fact, RA Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian said at the
joint press conference with Slovakian FM held in Yerevan.

"However, Baku’s statements show that Azerbaijani side accepts Madrid
Principles with certain reservations. There are more reservations than
points acceptable to Baku which on the whole refer to elimination of
conflict consequences. As to the provisions acceptable to Azerbaijan,
they misinterpret them to such an extent that their essence nearly
vanishes," Nalbandian added.

He also informed that the sides keep on making working proposals
on Madrid Principles. "Baku’s statements concerning the documents
are just a smoke screen," FM stated, stressing that Armenian side
continues to take Madrid Principles as basis for peace process.

Nalbanidan also noted that his Paris meeting with OSCE Co-Chairs
was constructive.