AZERI AMBASSADOR TO THE UK: “BAKU READY TO TALK WITH ETHNIC ARMENIANS RESIDING IN NK”
Today, Azerbaijan
April 4 2006
Major principles in the resolution of the Armenian-Azerbaijani
conflict are based on the Constitution of Azerbaijan, which implies the
observation of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, inviolability
of borders and sovereignty.
They are also the principles of the international rule of law that
we have based on, the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador
of Azerbaijan to the UK, Rafael Ibrahimov, said in an interview for
BBCRussian.com.
“As to timeline, I can’t say that it exclusively work for us without
any exclusion in the relationships, but the point is that as times goes
by there appears a critical mass and the attitude of the international
community changes in favor of intensification of a decision making
process,” he underlined.
He noted that changes occur on the accents, estimations and Azerbaijan
holds rather favorable position. Truth about this conflict becomes
known everywhere.
The diplomat underlined that the territorial integrity was the major
principle and Azerbaijan regards it as a basis. As to implementation
of an agreement, if it is achieved it is planned to place peacemaking
forces following the withdrawal of the Armenian armed forces from
the occupied territory of Azerbaijan. It is to be followed by the
repatriation of the Azerbaijani internally displaced people (IDP) to
their native territory. Azerbaijan has always supported preventing
any authorities for monopolization of the issue of the composition
of the peace-keeping forces. We have always considered the issue on
international peacemakers, Ibrahimov underlined.
Moreover, the Azerbaijani diplomat voiced his disappointment hat every
time when Azerbaijan speaks about its legal demands for rehabilitation
of the territorial integrity, Armenia accepts it as tensioning of the
situation. Azerbaijan continues the negotiation process and is firm
on its ground. Obviously, we have definite short-term, middle-term
and long-term tasks in the issue on the liberation of the sovereign
Azerbaijani territory, he underscored.
At preset the issue of repatriation of the Armenian refugees to
Azerbaijan is also under consideration, Ibrahimov underlined, adding
that the issue must be considered in the context of repatriation of the
Armenian refugees and Azerbaijani refugees and IDPs, which currently
number over 1 million. It is also considered in the context of the
repatriation of Azerbaijani IDPs, who were driven out from the native
lands as a result of Armenian occupation. However, for the time being
it is too early to speak about achievement of a principle agreement
on the conflict resolution unless the exact order, ways and format
of provision of security of the refugees and IDPs are determined and
obviously, a process of repatriation starts.
Compromise by Azerbaijan is obvious. We hold peace talks with Armenia
on the topic of definition of a way and format for peaceable resolution
of the conflict. Over many years Azerbaijan has been imposed to the
aggression and occupation of Armenia.
Azerbaijan does not refuse from the talks and with Karabakh, but it
still depends on the format, he stressed. Baku is ready to speak
with the Azerbaijani citizens, the ethnic Armenians residing in
Nagorno-Karabakh. If they appeal to Baku in this respect, Azerbaijani
will never refuse from talks. In the opposite such dialogue is
desirable to take place, but only on the base of the Constitution
of Azerbaijan and a principle of sovereignty of Azerbaijan. In this
case Azerbaijan could make compromises and discuss the issue with
the subjects of the Azerbaijan Republic. The ethnic communities of
Nagorno Karabakh – Armenians and Azerbaijanis would participate in
this process.
The position has been exactly determined. The UK supports negotiation
process in the context of the OSCE Minsk Group and recognizes the
territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan. As a UN Security
Council member the country backed all 4 resolutions (822, 853, 874
and 884), adopted by the organization in 1993 and chaired in one of
them. London attentively observes over the talks and supports the rapid
resolution of the conflict in a peaceable way. The UK is not member
of the OSCE Minsk Group. The special envoy of the British government,
Brian Fall, regularly visits the region and holds meeting and exchange
of opinions on large specter of issues including the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict. Since the beginning of the conflict London supported the
sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and remains loyal
to this position, according to the Azerbaijani ambassador.
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