POLITICAL ANALYST: OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRMEN CAN APPROVE UPDATED MADRID PRINCIPLES WITHOUT ARMENIA’S CONSENT

Trend
May 5 2010
Azerbaijan

Processes, occur around the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, correspond to
the interests of Azerbaijan, the Center for Political Innovations
and Technologies head, political analyst Mubariz Ahmedoglu said at
a press conference held at Trend International Information Agency
press-center. It concerns the overall assessment of international
and regional socio-political process in April.

"Toughening of Armenia’s position changes nothing, since this action
was predictable. Armenia demonstrated insignificant attitude to
updated Madrid principles. OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen can approve
updated Madrid principles, without taking into account the consent
of Armenia", Ahmedoglu said.

"Armenian Foreign Minister said that many questions on updated Madrid
principles were not discussed with Armenia", political analyst said.

"If OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen keep their promise, it is possible
to achieve substantial progress in the peaceful settlement of the
conflict", Ahmedoglu said.

Political scientist noted that one of the changes in the peaceful
settlement of the conflict is to develop ideas for alternative
mediation. Russia intends to increase the number of occasions to
avoid conflict.

"Iran unexpectedly stated that Azerbaijan agreed to its mediation in
resolving of the conflict, and that Armenia refused from the proposal.

Official Baku agreed to official Tehran’s mediation in May last year.

If Iran does not want to place armed forces of secondary countries
in the region of conflict, if it considers that Nagorno-Karabakh
and seven adjacent regions belong to Azerbaijan, the country must
help Azerbaijan to restore sovereignty over its occupied lands,
" political analyst said.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994.

The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the U.S. –
are currently holding the peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council’s resolutions
on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh region and the occupied
territories.