AZERBAIJANI FOREIGN MINISTER ELMAR MAMMADYAROV: "NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT SHOULD BE SOLVED IN STAGES"

APA
April 1 2010
Azerbaijan

Baku – APA. Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov received
French National Assembly deputies Christian Batay and Rolan Blum,
Foreign Ministry’s press service told APA.

Nagorno Karabakh conflict was the main subject of discussion at
the meeting.

According to him, Armenia has occupied the territories of Azerbaijani
and roughly violated international legal norms and principles.

Mammadyarov said that it was necessary to eliminate the consequences
of occupation for the settlement of the conflict. Noting that this
requires the settlement of the conflict in stages, Mammadyarov said
that first and foremost it is necessary to withdraw Armenian armed
forces from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, to establish normal
living conditions in these areas, to open the communication, to ensure
the return of IDPs to their homelands, and finally to determine the
status of Nagorno-Karabakh. Minister Mammadyarov noted that only in
this way one can ensure lasting peace and stability in the region.

In response, the French deputies expressed confidence in sooner
settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and noted the importance
of increased international efforts in this direction. The two sides
also exchanged views on other issues of mutual interest.