NKR INDEPENDENCE IS OFF QUESTION: ILHAM ALIYEV

news.am
April 9 2010
Armenia

Independence of Nagorno-Karabakh is not even the point of issue
and mediators’ proposals do not contain clause providing for it,
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev speaking at the Estonian Foreign
Ministry.

"In many cases Armenians refer to principle of self-determination. It
is definitely important principle of international law, however
Armenians are already self-determined, as have an independent Armenian
state. According to this logic, Armenians can self-determine anywhere
they live? How many Armenian states we will have then?" Aliyev stated.

According to him, Azerbaijan will always oppose this. "The sooner
Armenian side realizes it, the better for them and for us. Thus,
the issue will be settled shortly and peace can be established in
the South Caucasus."

"Those presently residing in Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijanis who
will definitely return there should live together based on security
guarantees within sovereign Azerbaijani state with a high status of
autonomy it has. This stance fully conforms to norms of international
law, meanwhile reflecting mediators’ efforts and their proposals
presented to each side," Azerbaijani President noted.

He expressed hope that mediators’ activities will yield tangible
results in the near future. "In particular, now it is Armenia’s
turn to accept mediators’ last proposal or not. If they do, I think
that negotiation process should be reconsidered and new stage to be
started," he noted.