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BAKU: Armenian Leader Puts His Own Spin On Garabagh Paper

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  • BAKU: Armenian Leader Puts His Own Spin On Garabagh Paper

    ARMENIAN LEADER PUTS HIS OWN SPIN ON GARABAGH PAPER

    AzerNews Weekly
    Nov 12 2008
    Azerbaijan

    Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian has said Yerevan deems as pivotal
    Azerbaijan`s signing on November 2 of the declaration on a political
    settlement to the Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict allegedly
    recognizing that the norms of international law are not limited to
    territorial integrity.

    In an interview with Germany`s Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
    newspaper, Sarkisian claimed that the core of the problem
    was the status of Upper Garabagh, referring to an Azeri region
    under Armenian occupation. He reiterated Yerevan`s claim, saying
    Azerbaijan is to recognize the right of Garabagh Armenians to
    self-determination. According to Sarkisian, it will be possible to
    solve other issues regarding the conflict resolution afterwards.

    The declaration, signed by Azerbaijani, Armenian and Russian Presidents
    Ilham Aliyev, Serzh Sarkisian and Dmitry Medvedev in Moscow following
    the Russia-brokered meeting, envisions further OSCE-mediated dialog
    between the sides. It urges joint effort in bolstering stability in
    the South Caucasus through a political settlement of the conflict
    based on the principles of international law and earlier documents.

    Sarkisian maintained that Armenia`s goal was not to keep under
    control the districts surrounding Upper Garabagh, indicating that
    these territories were allegedly important for the protection of the
    separatist regime operating there.

    Armenia has been occupying over 20% of Azerbaijan`s
    internationally-recognized territory since the early 1990s, in defiance
    of international law.

    The Armenian leader said his country supported launching talks
    as soon as possible on a document regarding basic principles of
    a conflict settlement submitted by the mediating OSCE Minsk Group
    co-chairs. "After that, we have to discuss a peace accord. We have
    a long road ahead of us."

    In reply to a question on the possible granting of the autonomy status
    to Upper Garabagh within Azerbaijan, Sarkisian said the ability of
    the region`s population to develop in safe conditions was in question.

    "History has shown that this is not possible within Azerbaijan,"
    he alleged. "We have never believed that Upper Garabagh could stay
    part of Azerbaijan."

    As for the warm-up in relations between Armenia and Turkey, the two
    neighboring countries that have long been facing hostility, Sarkisian
    said improvements could be achieved in bilateral ties in a year`s
    time. He said Turkey`s recognizing the alleged Armenian genocide was
    not a primary pre-condition for restoring diplomatic ties between
    the two countries.

    "It is not important now which side the initiative to improve
    ties comes from. The main thing is for these ties to be forged,"
    Sarkisian said.

    Armenia and Turkey have been at odds and the border between the two
    countries has been closed since 1993 on Ankara`s insistence due to
    Armenia`s policy of occupation against Azerbaijan and the "genocide"
    claims.

    The Azerbaijani government was quick to respond to Sarkisian`s
    statement. The Foreign Ministry spokesman, Khazar Ibrahim, said
    there was uncertainty in his utterances. He reminded that the
    Moscow declaration, co-signed by the Armenian leader, envisions a
    settlement of the Garabagh conflict based on the principles and norms
    of international law.

    "In all documents adopted in the world community so far,
    territorial integrity is held above everything, and the issue of the
    self-determination of nations finds its solution within this very
    principle," Ibrahim said.
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