SETTLEMENT OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT IS VERY IMPORTANT FROM REGIONAL POINT OF VIEW: AZERBAIJANI DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER
Trend
Oct 6 2009
Azerbaijan
Settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is very important from
regional point of view as all communications and roads are closed,
Azerbaijani deputy foreign minister Araz Azimov said.
"Co-chairmen of OSCE Minsk Group prepare a meeting of Azerbaijani and
Armenian Presidents in Kishinev. We also prepare for this meeting. More
attention will be paid to several issues. But some of them will be
discussed during further stages of the talks," Azimov told media on
October 6.
The next meeting of Azerbaijani and Armenian Presidents Ilham Aliyev
and Serzh Sarkisian will be held in Kishinev on October 8, Russian
co-chairman of OSCE Minsk Group Yuri Merzlyakov told media in Baku
on October 6.
There is no unilateral settlement of the conflict. It can be solved
only on the basis of a compromise, Azimov said.
He said that Azerbaijan is ready for a compromise settlement. High
degree of autonomy within the Azerbaijani Republic must be given to
Karabakh, deputy minister said.
He said that Armenia must also refuse from maximalism and take
further actions. "If these actions are not taken, there will not be
any conceptual settlement of conflicts," Azimov said.
He said that one of the principles is liberation of seven
regions. Karabakh must remain as part of Azerbaijan. Refugees must
return, communities must establish joint life. Afterwards, the issue
on status can be solved. "There is not other solution. Other logic
is unacceptable. There can not be any variant for Armenia to solve
the conflict without Azerbaijan’s consent," deputy minister said.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan
lost all of Nagorno-Karabakh except for Shusha and Khojali in December
1991. In 1992-93, Armenian armed forces occupied Shusha, Khojali and 7
districts surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh. Azerbaijan and Armenia signed
a ceasefire in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia,
France, and the U.S. – are currently holding the peace negotiations.