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BAKU ACKNOWLEDGES KEY KARABAKH POINTS NOT YET AGREED
news.az
Aug 1, 2011
Azerbaijan
Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov has talked about the difficulties in
reaching a peace settlement with Armenia in the conflict over Karabakh.
He made the comments in an interview published in a special issue of
The Business Year magazine, devoted to Azerbaijan, 1news.az reported.
The Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan and seven adjacent
districts have been occupied by Armenian armed forces for over 20
years, the minister noted. "And this is despite the fact that relevant
resolutions of the UN Security Council and the international community
demand the unconditional and immediate withdrawal of occupying forces
from Azerbaijan."
He recalled that negotiations on a resolution of the conflict, mediated
by the OSCE Minsk Group, had been continuing for over 17 years.
"Personally, I had several meetings with my Armenian counterpart,
mediated by my Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov in 2010," Mammadyarov
noted. "Additionally, we have been in regular contact with the OSCE
Minsk Group co-chairs. In this way Azerbaijan and Armenia managed to
smooth some differences, but nonetheless some important elements are
still to be coordinated between the two parties. We continue working
on the basic principles that will lay a basis for a comprehensive
peace treaty."
Mammadyarov noted that the leaders of France, Russia and the United
States - the countries that co-chair the OSCE Minsk Group - had said
in a joint statement that the status quo following Armenia's use of
force had to change.
The minister said that Azerbaijan expected the conflict settlement
to ensure the withdrawal of troops from the occupied lands, the
return of Azerbaijani refugees and displaced persons to their homes,
the normalization of life, peaceful coexistence of Azerbaijanis and
Armenians in the region and a future political process to define the
status of self-determination for both communities of Nagorno-Karabakh
within the territory of Azerbaijan.
"We are strongly convinced that peace can be durable if it is based
on the peaceful coexistence of both communities. As part of the
territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, we are ready to grant the region
self-government with the participation of both communities.
"This is recognized and supported by the world community, as well.
Despite all the difficulties caused by the inconsistency of the
Armenian stance, we believe in a peaceful settlement of the conflict,"
Mammadyarov said.
He noted that Armenia was left out of regional economic projects
because of the Karabakh conflict.
"The official position of Azerbaijan is that Armenia should withdraw
its occupying forces from Azerbaijani territory. After this, the
door to economic cooperation and mutual relations will be open,"
Mammadyarov said.
"At the same time Azerbaijan has strong economic ties with all the
other countries of the region and these relations will grow from year
to year. Our country is the economic leader in the South Caucasus
and one of the world's most rapidly growing economies."
Conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh began in 1988 when Armenia made claims
on the Azerbaijani territory. Armenian armed forces occupied a swathe
of Azerbaijani territory from 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh
region and seven surrounding districts. Despite a ceasefire in 1994,
no long-term peace agreement has been reached.
The nub of the conflict remains unresolved - the competing claims of
territorial integrity, which Azerbaijan insists takes precedence in
the case of Karabakh, and self-determination, which Armenia wants to
see for the Armenians of Karabakh.
The latest meeting of the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan,
mediated by the Russian president in Kazan on 24 June, failed to reach
agreement on the basic principles for a Karabakh settlement. Dmitriy
Medvedev subsequently sent letters to both leaders, outlining his
views on resolution of the conflict. The Armenian and Azerbaijani
presidents have responded to the letters, but the content of the
content of the letters and responses has not yet been made public.
European integration
Azerbaijan has always been an active participant in the process of
reintegration with Europe, Elmar Mammadyarov said in The Business
Year interview, according to 1news.az.
"Our cooperation has undergone a serious transformation from
the initial emphasis on aid [from the EU] to mutually beneficial
cooperation which reflects the interests of both sides. It is important
that our cooperation is based on an understanding of effectiveness,
equal partnership, mutual understanding and respect."
The minister said that Azerbaijan was today the EU's main trading
partner in the region, adding that the oil-rich country was expecting
growth in its non-energy sector in the near future.
"Therefore our cooperation should cover other spheres of activity,
such as education, science and research, transport, agriculture
and security. We have started the talks on an Association Agreement
between the EU and Azerbaijan as part of the Eastern Partnership. The
agreement is intended to replace the existing Agreement on Partnership
and Cooperation and will further strengthen relations between the EU
and Azerbaijan, help to continue the reform process in our country
and promote economic integration and political cooperation between
the sides."
News.Az
From: A. Papazian
news.az
Aug 1, 2011
Azerbaijan
Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov has talked about the difficulties in
reaching a peace settlement with Armenia in the conflict over Karabakh.
He made the comments in an interview published in a special issue of
The Business Year magazine, devoted to Azerbaijan, 1news.az reported.
The Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan and seven adjacent
districts have been occupied by Armenian armed forces for over 20
years, the minister noted. "And this is despite the fact that relevant
resolutions of the UN Security Council and the international community
demand the unconditional and immediate withdrawal of occupying forces
from Azerbaijan."
He recalled that negotiations on a resolution of the conflict, mediated
by the OSCE Minsk Group, had been continuing for over 17 years.
"Personally, I had several meetings with my Armenian counterpart,
mediated by my Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov in 2010," Mammadyarov
noted. "Additionally, we have been in regular contact with the OSCE
Minsk Group co-chairs. In this way Azerbaijan and Armenia managed to
smooth some differences, but nonetheless some important elements are
still to be coordinated between the two parties. We continue working
on the basic principles that will lay a basis for a comprehensive
peace treaty."
Mammadyarov noted that the leaders of France, Russia and the United
States - the countries that co-chair the OSCE Minsk Group - had said
in a joint statement that the status quo following Armenia's use of
force had to change.
The minister said that Azerbaijan expected the conflict settlement
to ensure the withdrawal of troops from the occupied lands, the
return of Azerbaijani refugees and displaced persons to their homes,
the normalization of life, peaceful coexistence of Azerbaijanis and
Armenians in the region and a future political process to define the
status of self-determination for both communities of Nagorno-Karabakh
within the territory of Azerbaijan.
"We are strongly convinced that peace can be durable if it is based
on the peaceful coexistence of both communities. As part of the
territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, we are ready to grant the region
self-government with the participation of both communities.
"This is recognized and supported by the world community, as well.
Despite all the difficulties caused by the inconsistency of the
Armenian stance, we believe in a peaceful settlement of the conflict,"
Mammadyarov said.
He noted that Armenia was left out of regional economic projects
because of the Karabakh conflict.
"The official position of Azerbaijan is that Armenia should withdraw
its occupying forces from Azerbaijani territory. After this, the
door to economic cooperation and mutual relations will be open,"
Mammadyarov said.
"At the same time Azerbaijan has strong economic ties with all the
other countries of the region and these relations will grow from year
to year. Our country is the economic leader in the South Caucasus
and one of the world's most rapidly growing economies."
Conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh began in 1988 when Armenia made claims
on the Azerbaijani territory. Armenian armed forces occupied a swathe
of Azerbaijani territory from 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh
region and seven surrounding districts. Despite a ceasefire in 1994,
no long-term peace agreement has been reached.
The nub of the conflict remains unresolved - the competing claims of
territorial integrity, which Azerbaijan insists takes precedence in
the case of Karabakh, and self-determination, which Armenia wants to
see for the Armenians of Karabakh.
The latest meeting of the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan,
mediated by the Russian president in Kazan on 24 June, failed to reach
agreement on the basic principles for a Karabakh settlement. Dmitriy
Medvedev subsequently sent letters to both leaders, outlining his
views on resolution of the conflict. The Armenian and Azerbaijani
presidents have responded to the letters, but the content of the
content of the letters and responses has not yet been made public.
European integration
Azerbaijan has always been an active participant in the process of
reintegration with Europe, Elmar Mammadyarov said in The Business
Year interview, according to 1news.az.
"Our cooperation has undergone a serious transformation from
the initial emphasis on aid [from the EU] to mutually beneficial
cooperation which reflects the interests of both sides. It is important
that our cooperation is based on an understanding of effectiveness,
equal partnership, mutual understanding and respect."
The minister said that Azerbaijan was today the EU's main trading
partner in the region, adding that the oil-rich country was expecting
growth in its non-energy sector in the near future.
"Therefore our cooperation should cover other spheres of activity,
such as education, science and research, transport, agriculture
and security. We have started the talks on an Association Agreement
between the EU and Azerbaijan as part of the Eastern Partnership. The
agreement is intended to replace the existing Agreement on Partnership
and Cooperation and will further strengthen relations between the EU
and Azerbaijan, help to continue the reform process in our country
and promote economic integration and political cooperation between
the sides."
News.Az
From: A. Papazian